I heard tense voices as I approached Stone’s door. Glancing at one another, Myra and I made our way to it on silent feet. I tried to ignore the looks of hatred coming out from the cells we passed. Many of them contained the Pumas that had just been arrested, and were facing charges of human trafficking.

As we approached the office, the voices became more distinct, One voice had a melodic tenor to it, and the other was definitely Stone’s deep bass.

“I expect strength and a firm hand from my sheriff. Not excuses,” said the tenor.

“I have not made excuses, Councilman. I've simply explained the facts of what has happened. It's not there for you to like or dislike. The facts are the facts,” replied Stone calmly. It was strange hearing him talk so formally.

“And while you collect your ‘facts’ more and more people wind up dead. And now you cannot handle even a simple execution,” continued the tenor, a councilman apparently. My stomach dropped with dread.

Each city in Luradia was governed in two parts. One was the sheriff, and the other was a council of twelve with an additional thirteenth as the leader. Those people reported directly to the king, who oversaw all of Luradia. Meaning, these two men were equals in terms of power.

“I have already explained this. The butcher's revenge was his right sanctified by the Gods,” Stone said. I could picture him standing behind his desk, his arms folded behind his back.

“It was a circus and you know it! To make matters worse, you allowed it without clearance from the council. Some of those in attendance passed out in horror from the display you endorsed. There were children present!” said the councilman, and I heard a floorboard creak under someone’s weight.

“Do you have so little faith in my judgement? Were you going to be the one to defy a Deified their right? It was you who wanted me to come out of retirement in the first place, I’ll remind you,” Stone asked evenly. I had always marveled at his ability to be calm in tense situations. Stone rarely lost his patience. As his former apprentice, I would know. I usually was the reason he lost it.

“I know that voice,” whispered Myra in my ear, “That’s Thirteenth Councilman Terris. Oh this is exciting!”

“ Shh, Myra. I can’t hear,” I whispered back and leaned closer to the door.

“- continued insistence on making your own decisions without following the proper protocol,” Terris was saying. I heard sharp steps move across the room, and I knew the men were likely standing across from one another.

“I have done nothing illegal,” Stone said, though I didn’t hear him move away, “And I do not need your permission to know how to handle my execution, Councilman.”

“You risked much by allowing that to happen. If it had gone wrong, who would have taken responsibility?” the councilman asked.

“I would,” Stone said unflinchingly.

“Jeremiah, I know how you feel about cases involving rape. It's no wonder after Fayra--” replied Terris but he broke off. I could only imagine the thunderous look on Stone's face, and was amazed Stone kept his composure. After a moment, we heard the Councilman sigh.

“The council simply requests you consult us before drastic moves like this. That is all,” he said soberly. I heard footsteps and knew he and Stone were now standing inches from one another.

“Does the council request it?” Stone asked, maintaining his even voice, “Or do you?”

“The council is on edge,” continued Terris as if Stone had not spoken, “I needn’t remind you that we have a killer on the loose with a flavor for Deified blood. Big moves do not reflect well upon you, Jeremiah. You need help and the council has considerable power which you refuse to allow us to give.”

A long pause, and then another sigh.

“But we shall have to continue this conversation another time. It is no longer private,” said Terris finally.

“I know,” said Stone, sounding exhausted.

Myra and I looked at each other and stood tall as I heard Stone’s distinctive heavy steps coming closer.

He opened the door without preamble to reveal a tall man dressed in a gray suite and dress shoes standing next to his desk. Terris was handsome with brown hair, and tawny eyes. The suit did nothing to hide his muscular build. The moment he saw us, he swept into a bow.

“Good afternoon, ladies. I hope we have not kept you waiting,” said Terris as he rose back to his height. Myra responded with a graceful curtsy as I shook Stone’s hand.

“Good day, Councilman Terris,” Myra said, nodding to him and then to Stone, “Sheriff Stone.”

I looked at Terris and realized I recognized him.

“Councilman Terris…wait, Samuel Terris?” I asked, and he grinned to reveal white teeth.

“The very same. How are you, Lady Rowena? Returned from your odyssey?” Terris asked with another bow. He looked at Myra, hands clasped behind his back.

“And now you appear with none other than the Lady Beafoutonte,” he commented, and Myra perked slightly at hearing her title.

“What an unexpected pleasure this is. I do hope that the wedding preparations have proceeded smoothly.”

“They have, Councilman, thank you,” Myra lied, “Lady Rowena and I are enjoying time together before the ceremony, but she has business with the sheriff. I hope we have not interrupted you.”

“Think nothing of it, Dear Lady,” Terris said, reaching for a coat hung in the corner, as well as a stately cap. He looked back toward Stone evenly before saying, “We may revisit this another time. For now, please do your business.”

He donned his coat and looked back toward me.

“Good Gods Lady Rowena, you have not aged a day since I saw you last. What has it been, four years?”

“I think so. You’ve certainly changed though,” I said, looking him up and down, “You lost weight. A lot of weight. I barely recognized you.”

“Rowena,” Stone said, a warning in his tone. Myra cleared her throat.

“Please excuse her, Councilman,” Myra said derisively, “Lady Rowena is not one to mince words.”

“Oh, I am well aware. Fear not, she speaks the truth, Lady Beafoutonte!” Terris said, chuckling, “Many a chair met its end under my fat ass when I was growing up. Thankfully, a healthy work life has benefitted both my career, and my physique. I thank you.”

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With that, he put his cap on and made for the door. He paused there and looked at me.

“Please call upon me soon, Lady Rowena. I have so many questions about your journey and I want to know about every moment. Did you traverse the Yurei canyons like they said? Did you see the the Cimmeron? And what of the Ashlings? And the shade creatures of Mirror Lake? Yes, I want to hear about it all,” Terris said, then looked at Myra, “Please know that you are invited as well, Lady Beaufoutonte.”

Myra curtsied again.

“Thank you, Councilman. That’s very kind,” she said deferentially.

“I’ll consider it, Councilman. Have a good day,” I said, closing the door behind him. I waited until he was several steps away before looking at Stone and Myra. They had mirrored expressions of exasperation.

“And yet again,” Myra said, “The bar continues to lower. You can’t even show respect to a councilman?”

“What did I say that was disrespectful?” I asked, crossing my arms, and leaning against the wall.

“You called him fat!” Myra and Stone said in unison.

“No,” I corrected, “I called him thinner than he was. That's a compliment.”

“You insulted him!” Myra said, “Saying he lost weight implies he had it to begin with.”

“Well, he did have it to begin with. In abundance actually. He used to be called Sausage Sam,” I thought for a moment, Myra’s face going beet red. Stone put his face into his hand as I processed my own words.

“Then again, maybe that nickname had more than one meaning,” I said finally.

Myra’s face continued to get redder, and Stone still hid behind his hand, his voice slightly muffled as he spoke.

“It’s a valiant effort, Lady Beaufoutonte,” Stone said, sitting on the edge of his desk, “But this one doesn’t admit when she’s wrong. Not ever.”

“Who do you think I learned that from?” I asked acidly.

“Who indeed,” Stone said, pinning me with his gaze. I looked away, suddenly not feeling very clever.

“How in the God’s holiness do you know a councilman?” asked Myra, who sat herself in the seat Stone offered her, her back as straight as a knife.

“He was one of my first patients from when I was apprenticed to be a healer,” I explained, and my pistols seem to double in weight.

“You were an apprentice healer?” asked Myra incredulously, skepticism in every word. I took particular interest in my boots.

“Nearly a graduate…until she became my apprentice,” Stone cut in, and I could feel his eyes on me now. Myra let out a very unladylike snort.

“Oh, you poor thing, having to deal with her day after day,” she said to Stone, who chuckled. I looked up to see Myra looking up pensively.

“How did I not hear about this?” she asked.

“I didn’t really think the news would interest you. There’s not enough lace involved,” I replied, baring my teeth in a smile, “Besides you’re not completely innocent. The first time I heard about you and Levi was when your father sent me the letter about the job.”

The corner of Myra’s mouth lifted, and she batted her lashes at me.

“Why, I didn’t think it would interest you. Not enough bourbon and gun smoke.”

We looked at one another then with so much loathing, I was surprised sparks didn’t crack in the air between us. Stone walked behind his desk, and I heard him sip from a mug. He coughed to get my attention.

“After our last conversation, I didn’t expect to see you anytime soon, Rowena. How can I help you?”

“I want to talk to you about the dying Deified. Have their families been turning up dead too?” I asked. Stone stared at me with skeptical eyes.

“Are you helping me with the case?” Stone asked, his voice hard. He leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed. Gods, I had really forgotten how tall he was. Even seated, he was on eye level with me. Meeting that gaze was like putting your fingers in a candle flame. You could only do it for so long.

“If I have to,” I replied, and his jaw tightened.

“That's not a yes, and that information is only for those involved with the investigation. You'll have to give me more than that,” Stone said, his tone unyielding and broaching no argument.

"I think I met your killer," I said bluntly. That got Stone's attention. His gaze snapped to mine, and his eyes narrowed.

"And you waited until now to tell me?" he asked, though there was a note of accusation in his tone.

"Well it just happened last night," I said the same tone, the room so quiet you could have heard a mouse shed its fur. Stone looked from Myra and then to me. I saw him wrestle with lecturing me and focusing on the problem at hand. The latter won.

"What did they look like?" he asked, his voice a bit calmer.

"I don't know. I can tell you it was a man, but not entirely human. He was tall in the form I saw him in," I paused and Stone's brow furrowed.

"The form you saw him in? He had more than one?"

"He was a shape shifter. He was able to transform into a Behemoth."

Stone blinked several times before responding. He couldn't have looked more disturbed if I grew a second head.

"A shape-shifter. Son of a Succubus," Stone rubbed his face and took a pull on his coffee. I stay silent as he seemed to go through several trains of thought before he spoke again.

"That still doesn't explain how they can kill a Deified without burning their Mark," he said, sounding tired. He loosened his tie and tilted his head back to ceiling, staring at it listlessly. He sounded like a man who had caught a stray cat only to find out it was a feral tiger.

"I think I know how he's killed the Deified as well," I countered. Stone's gaze went from the ceiling to me, his gaze unreadable. He waved a hand for me to explain.

"You assumed that the Deified were dying on this plane of existence. That's not entirely wrong, but it's not right either."

Myra coughed and took a passing glance at Stone's mug of coffee, her eyes hungry. Looking away, she circled around to face me, her eyes wide.

"Miss Rowena, what are you talking about?" she asked in a tight voice. I met her eyes evenly before continuing.

"I think the man who's been trying to target your family to try to ruin the wedding is the same man who's been killing the Deified. At first I didn't think it was possible, but now I see that it is," I said, not looking away. Stone looked pensive and waved for me to continue again.

I opened my mouth, but was interrupted as Myra squeaked in surprise. I whipped around, my pistols drawn and ready for anything. I paused as I saw the steaming cup in Myra's outstretched hand.

"Where did that come from?" I asked Myra, who looked pale. She held the mug at arms length as if it contained acid. Stone surprised us both by chuckling.

"No, that's just Kage. She's an Photofolk who likes to stay invisible most of the time. She's been acting as a sort of assistant," he explained through his chuckles. He tilted his head back and addressed the room in general.

"It's okay Kage, come on out," he said soothingly.

"Yes Milord," came an echoing and feminine voice.

After a moment, the ghostlike form of a young woman appeared. She was tragically beautiful in a low-cut dress that as fashionable fifty years ago, and her translucent hair was curled into long and messy curls tumbling down her back. She looked like she could have been a tavern maid in her day, except for the gaping bullet hole in her chest.

"Charming," I said, trying to remain nonchalant. Photofolk were very rare. They weren't exactly ghosts, but more the culmination of memories left in the stone and wood of buildings. Sometimes those memories combined into a being resembling the creatures that once inhabited a place long ago. Most of the time they developed an attachment to a person or place who had similar emotions. Apparently, she liked Stone.

"How long have you had Photofolk around you?" Myra asked, now pulling the mug a bit closer to her. Kage followed her motion anxiously and seemed pleased when Myra took and exploratory sip.

"Even since I lost my apprentice," Stone said significantly as Kage faded from view. A few awkward moments went by until I felt Kage press a mug of coffee into my hands. I accepted it cautiously, but the brew smelled extremely good. I drank and sighed in contentment. Stone just looked at me expectantly and It took me a moment to remember what we had been talking about.

Right. How to kill someone by taking them into the Purgatory realm.

"Thank you Kage. Anyway, when I fought the shifter, he teleported us to Purgatory. He didn't kill me, but it's the closest anyone has gotten in a long time."

I paused, trying to remember the fight clearly.

"He attacked my soul directly but tears pages out of a book with my name on it. It came from a version of Purgatory that looked like a library," I said finally. Stone considered me for a long time. He seemed to take an extra moment to assess me for injury. I didn't miss the paternal flicker in his eyes, however brief it was. Finally, he nodded.

"That would make sense. The Marks protect a Deified's body, but their soul is fair game...if you can get to it. So it seems like we've been asking the wrong questions," he said pensively.

"The question is not who's been doing this. It's who is capable of doing it," I said, finishing the thought. Stone stared at me, weighing me. The silence in the room turned tense and awkward. Myra kept glancing between the two of us, her face tight.

"I don't understand you two. What am I missing here?" she asked. Stone and I avoided looking at one another, neither wanting to be the first to speak. Myra eventually let out an irritated sigh.

"Okay fine! I'll ask it bluntly," she took in a steadying breath and leaned against Stone's desk.

"What type of being is capable of killing a Deified in Purgatory?"

I rolled my neck, looking at my filthy nails with undue interest as I answered.

"Well...I can."