A Death in Gristem

[thewriter]

Curtains of water fell from the skies above Gristem. A young man traversed the lonely walkways and bridges of the city with the coat to his jacket tossed up over his. The stone and wooden paths wind around and through the city built over rivers and canals, forming a complex latticework that could very confusing on nights such as this, even to a person who knew the city. The rain falls hard, running off higher walkways and balconies in drenching waves, making it difficult for the man to see more than a few feet ahead of him. The distant glow of lanterns, barely visible in the soaking gloom, does little to light the paths on this warm, yet wet evening.

Io walked as quickly as was safe in the torrential downpour. If he hadn’t needed to go pick up these scrolls then even he wouldn’t have been out right now. But the merchant had said he’d only be in town for that night and Io knew he probably wouldn’t get another chance like that. So here he was trudging back to the building Relic Finders Inc. used as a headquarters and a rest place while he and Serena were here. He buried his hands deeper into his coat jacket pockets as he neared another of Gristem’s numerous bridges. Io’s vision, due to a magical explosion in a old Mer’ai temple, wasn’t really all that good without his spectacles on, but it was better than any humans. Especially on a gloomy night such as this.

This was the reason he spotted a figure in a dark cloak moving quietly through the rain on the bridge ahead. It seemed to be avoiding the dim pools of light cast by the lanterns, preferring to stay in the shadows. Lightning flashed, and Io saw a shape on the stone floor of the bridge in the brief illumination. Even with his bad vision Io noticed it and his walk slowed. The figure quickly reached the railing of the bridge, and then slipped over the barrier to disappear into the darkness and the rain.

[vhdcat24]

Quinn had been sitting near one of the windows of Relic Finders Inc, she had been pacing for a while and finally sat down to watch the rain pouring down in sheets. Her fingers turned the tear drop pendant around and around on her neck. It wasn't like Io couldn't take care of himself even in bad weather. She was still worried though something just didn't feel right. "Come on Io get back here before I have to go out there after you." she whispered part in prayer and part promise.

She had everything ready to go, her bo/walking stick, and a thick coat. She even had a lantern ready to go. Quinn frowned and started counting. She'd give Io another 8 minutes before she'd go out into the storm to find him.

[thewriter]

Moving cautiously now, and painfully aware of his lack of fangs and claws, Io approached the shape while the rain continued to pour over him. He could actually deal with the rain; possibly facing shadowy assailants in the middle of the night was not his idea of a great time though.
There was a cloaked figure up there a moment ago. He went over the side of the bridge I think.
Ek’ann simply nodded and felt the currents of magic swirl around him faster. He was a student of history, and ever book he had ever read with a situation like this always ended up badly for someone. When another bolt of lightning flashed Io knew perfectly well what the shape was and what had happened. A body lay on the floor of the bridge, and he saw a mixture of rain and blood pooling around it. A leather satchel, still clutched tightly in the body’s hand lay in the puddle of expanding puddle of water and gore.

The body was that was that of Bona Rifor, an elderly human scholar from the University Arcana who had had an unfortunate encounter with a cloaked figure on the rain swept bridge just moments before Io had arrived. He was dead by the time the young man reached him, having succumbed to wounds made by some sort of bladed weapon.

Io knelt by the man’s body, careful to keep him self out of the blood itself and ran a hand over the man’s body. When he focused the world took on a blue tint as his magic vision manifested. He muttered a few words and a identification spell formed and shot forth. When a person carried an object on their being long enough it picked up some of their residual energy. And while he wasn’t one of those who specialized in picking up psychic impressions from objects he was skilled enough to spot them.

Identification papers in the dead body’s shirt pocket provided him with the victims’ name, his position at the university as a researcher, and his affiliation with the pre-Sanct studies division of the University Arcana. He also noticed a small pouch hanging from the man’s belt along with the satchel. He took the pouch off and jiggled it to hear the clinking of coins. He slipped this into his jacket, a dead man would have no use for it anymore. But before Io could investigate further a scrabble of feet on rocks snapped his head around.

[vhdcat24]

The 8 minutes had come and gone. Quinn secured her coat and took a firm grip on the lantern and her bo/walking stick. She headed out the door into the storm with determination. She wouldn't be coming back without Io.

As she trudged through the storm she starting thinking back on her life. All the important moments in her life included Io. Her birth that she did not remember but Io enjoyed telling the tale. Her first training with the bo staff, cross bow, and of course the dragon riding lessons.

She loved that most of all. It was both freedom and partner ship. She knew for the rest of her life nothing would match it. Though Io did tease her that sometimes, she'll want to be a parent herself. Quinn had to laugh, the last time she'd almost been kissed by a boy Io had 'scared' the boy away. The threat of being eaten by a dragon was scarier then having a father to worry about.

[thewriter]

As Io had approached the scene of the crime, the cloaked figure who disappeared over the side of the bridge worked her way across the underside to surprise him. The figure beneath the cloak is a third-generation vampire named Yulani Tioot, an independent agent hired to follow the researcher and take his work when the time was right. The humanoid appearing had been a stroke of bad luck. A stroke she intended to rectify right then and there.

As the vampire lunged at him, battleaxe swinging for a decapitating strike, Io nimbly ducked under the attack. She lowered herself into a crouch as she stopped and hissed at him baring full fangs.
“A vampire?” he asked himself more than her. The woman cracked a smile anyway.
“Yes a vampire.” She intoned with a voice like silk. “Judging from your abilities you’d make a great turn. But I have a job to do.” She said.
A glowing green energy pulsed in Io’s eyes. “Fine by me. Take your best shot Void spawn.”

He truly hated not being able to transform here. But his true appearance would cause too much panic and confusion. And there probably wasn’t enough room anyway. And thinking quickly through his repertoire of spell he had none truly related to attacking. But he could make something work. He would have too. The vampire came at him again with an overhand strike that he easily dodged again. If she had noticed the fact that he was easily faster than her she didn’t let it register on her face. She tried to turn the downward stroke into a horizontal spin to her right to follow his dodge and he dropped into a low crouch and felt the blade of the axe pass over his head. He really needed to start carrying a weapon…..

[vhdcat24]

Quinn walked and sorta slid on the path. She was worried and even with the thickness of her coat she was getting soaked. This was the kind of storm her mother would never had ventured out into. Quinn though was still determined to find Io and find out what was keeping him. At one point the wind blew so hard that the rain felt like needles piercing her skin, on her hands and face.

She hissed under her breath and kept moving. Quinn would not break her personal promise she wasn't going back to Relic Finders Inc with Io. ~~He's going to be upset with me for this one.~~ she thought with a wry grin. She could just imagine his opening line for yet another lecture once they were back in the safty of the building.