Rising Shadows [Dark Huntress, Scarsmate, and Redkite]

[RedKite]

He watches the others uneasily as small talk enters the room just as quickly as it leaves.

[Scars Mate]

Rivera glanced uncomfortably at Rotan. It wasn't going well, to say the least. The maid had been right; it was very hostile.

'Well,' she said, bringing everyone's attention to her. 'Perhaps we should out line what's been happening?' An expectant silence followed, so she ploughed on. 'There have been murders. Many murders. All of the victims- humans, werewolves and vampires- have been found dead. Now, there isn't any connection, not any that we could find, anyway. However, we've sent you all a copy of information each victim, to see if you have any luck. It should arrived later.' She looked around the room again, all faces grave. Then Rotan spoke up.

'We believe it could be a banshee, hag, or even a power hungry witch, trying to bring a demon back, or something along those lines. There are three witches that have been in this area recently; you have information on them too. We need you all to look at this- and try and find a link, or we'll be facing more deaths, and we can't let that happen.' He finished, his green eyes hooded and worried.

''For now,' Rivera's spoke up,' there will be food. For us.' She gestured to the other vampires,' there will be an array of -ah- beverages,' she said uncomfortably. 'Please,' she waved her hand at the wolves,' do say what you'd like.'

[RedKite]

Septimus glances around more nervous than ever, at the mention of 'beverages' he grimaces. He looks uncomfortably around but then speaks up:

"I have seen....signs of a witch around my.....ah....home-"

"Home!" Issabelle scoffs, eyeing him sideways.

He narrows his eyes, they both stand up and the tension rises rapidly. Their eyes lock.

[Scars Mate]

'Do continue,' Rivera said deliberately slowly. Her voice was firm, but warning, as she stared directly at Septimus. Her eyes flickered to Issabelle for a fraction of a second, and in that time sent her a teetering-on-the-edge-of-threatening look. Rivera knew that the female vampire could read minds, so she very quietly sent her a message: Enough is enough.

'I know of two witches,' Rivera said, looking back to the wolf. 'I believe they are called Angelrisa and Hydrati, but I don't know how any other details- how often they've been here, or what their purpose was. What have you seen?' She directed the question back to Septimus.

[RedKite]

"Bones, mostly... Cattle, wolves...maybe humans....maybe vampires...Maybe children." He whispers as he turned away.

Issabelle smiles with satisfaction as she sits back down.

[Scars Mate]

Rivera shuddered. She had always yearned for children, but being a vampire stopped any possibilities of having a blood related child.

'We have found... Herbs. And scorch marks. Nothing that stand out individually, but... Together, they're fatal,' she said, her voice sad.

[RedKite]

Septimus drops his gaze and sends Rowen another message.

*Meet me around the back in one hour...*

[Scars Mate]

Eden cleared her throat meekly, and managed to refrain from running from the room when all eyes swivelled to her. She glanced at her brother, who gave her a reassuring nod, before clearing her throat again.

'We've seen... Things. Bones- that weren't us, or vampires. They were all broken, and so small...' She had tears in her eyes as she said this. 'We even knew some of the victims. Children have gone missing, as have adults,' she choked out. Elijah quickly took over as his sister let her head fall.

'There's a stench all around our place- demons, or just plain bad magic. We really don't know. It's been getting worse.' Rivera nodded.

'The same is for us. We're not sure-' she glanced at Rotan, who was staring intently at Septimus, for no apparent reason. He was, unbeknown to the others, discussing what the werewolf had seen, checking to see if it matched his own experiences. Rivera carried on. 'Has anyone else had any sort of things like this?' She looked around at the room, her blue eyes stopping on every one for a few seconds.

[RedKite]

Septimus growls under his breath at the mention of demons

"Well, what can we do about it?" He demands as flash back memories flood his brain, of the pain and hurt and depression that consumed his after a demon-like spirit had infiltrated his system and overloaded it, causing him to kill all of his loved ones and family.

[Scars Mate]

Rivera sighed deeply.

'That's partly what we're here to discuss. We- as in, the council- need your ideas. We have a feeling that this will require teamwork- to trace these witches, and find out what they're doing.'

'The forest,' Elijah said quietly. All faces turned to him. 'I mean, they'll be in the forests. It's a good place to hide.'