Solomon hung onto the aptly named ‘Oh shit!’ bar as Seiko made the small truck perform as if it was a high-end street racer. Fighting against inertia as she took a hard turn in a drift. Yelling profanities in English as the truck left the drift in a fishtail.

“Seiko slow down! You’re going to get us written up again!” Aiko cried white-faced, hanging onto Solomon’s arm to keep from being thrown into her partner by the inertia.

Seiko seemed more in a world of her own. Hollering in glee as she took another turn. “Relax Ai, it’s just the backstreets. We’ll be there in no time!” Working the wheel as they slide back onto the main road, gunning the throttle for the last stretch. “It’s right up ahead!”

Solomon swallowed hard to fight down the motion sickness. Seeing a large house surrounded by a tall wrought iron fence ahead. He could make out a van in the same color as the truck parked in front of the large double gate. Bracing himself against the dash as Seiko brought the truck to a skidding halt next to the other vehicle, laughing to herself as she rode an adrenaline high.

Muttering to himself he opened the door, nearly falling out as he forgot that Aiko was still hanging onto him. “Clingy aren’t you? Least take me out to dinner before you start hanging on to me like this.” Chiding as he pried her off him and stepped out. Leaving her laid out over the seat looking nonplussed before recoiling as the implication clicked. Going red in the face and straightening up.

“Well what else was I supposed to hang on to!?” She stammered out as Seiko laughed beside her.

Taking a breath to get his composure back, he went to the bed of the truck. Silently grateful to the one that nagged him to tie down his rucksack as the police girl’s stunt would’ve surely thrown it from the truck. Digging into it to pull out his old webbing and spare magazines. Only now acknowledging the half dozen pairs of eyes staring at him. He heard a heavy set of footsteps and his handlers shuffled to straighten as whoever owned said footsteps approached.

“Officers Murakawa and Tani of the Community Policing Section, reporting with Hunter Solomon!”

Solomon couldn’t help but roll his eyes slightly as Aiko sounded off, shrugging off his oversized jacket to put his old and worn webbing on, hearing voices behind him. Murmuring amongst each other.

“Is this a joke?”

“I never met many foreigners in the flesh, but I know a kid when I see one!”

“What’s he going to do with that peashooter?”

“He should be in school, not playing adult.”

Solomon snorted as he finished sliding in spare mags into his webbing and closed up his jacket. Spinning on his heels to see a very grizzled man dressed to the nines in SWAT gear sans helmet, it rested on his hip in his hand, appraising him with a scowl. Behind him were five others dressed similarly, a mix of men and women though all wore face-concealing helmets, SMGs inspired by the Uzi hung at their sides. If he was more self-conscious, he’d have an issue with the clear gulf of quality of equipment. He with his outdated and worn gear and Japan’s seemingly being all or nothing in regard to kitting their fighting forces with. The grizzled man cleared his throat when Solomon made eye contact, not before flipping his visor over his eye.

“Officer Musashi of the Anti Daemon Operations Task Force.” The man said with a voice as rough as he looked. Solomon hazarded to guess he was over the hump in terms of age, a noticeable stripe of graying hair around his ears, though fighting daemons stacked on the years with how stress-inducing it was. Musashi made a gesture to him. “I can tell by the look in your eye you’re not one for formality: so I’ll say it plainly, you’re too young to be here, regardless of any experience you may possess.”

Solomon snorted, shrugging indifferently. “I get that a lot. But I’ll be just as plain.” He took a half step forward and jabbed his thumb at himself. “I don’t care. Like it or not I’m here and right now there’s a tidy little payday in that big ol’ house there so how about explaining why you’re still out here? Would figure a down-to-business guy like you would be busy there.”

Musashi’s mouth twitched as he nodded, spun on his heel, and motioned Solomon to follow. Leading him to his team who were standing by the gate. “Ordinarily we’d be wasting no time, but your arrival changed the procedure. My understanding is that you have scanning equipment, correct?”

“Yeah, what, you don’t have any yourself?”

“Not man-portable ones. We can detect when a daemon manifests at the headquarters but we lack anything like your Hunter Companions on the domestic front.”

“And outfitting people with these is out of your budget, am I right?” Solomon remarked, tapping the HCOMP on his arm.

Musashi nodded with a disdainful grunt. Stopping at the gate and gesturing to the rest of his team as he pulled his helmet on. “We don’t know the quantity or quality of the daemons inside the compound. The previous owner was extravagant, so there’s a lot of ground to cover.” Stopping briefly to toss a small headset over to Solomon. “We’re going to request that you be the eyes of this op.”

Solomon adjusted his visor to slip on the headset, wincing slightly as one of the team members beeped into his ear in a way he was sure was intentional. Activating his HCOMP to set it in a wide scanning mode. “Just so long as I’m being paid for it. Bounty’s gonna be stretched pretty thin with you six here.”

Looking over the outlying grounds and manor to get a broad scan. Solomon noted the size of the property. Assuming the house was dead center, the area couldn't be much bigger than a half dozen acres. Though why such a big property was taking space in a metropolitan city was beyond him. Whoever owned this place must’ve had deep pockets to secure this much space.

The central driveway was flanked by overgrown plots of lawn. Solomon could make out the remains of shrubs in the tall grass, but the house held a commanding view of the road in front of it was inexplicably plantation style, though in contrast to the front yard the outside of the house seemed eerily pristine. The columns were nearly pure white.

Tapping away at his HCOMP as the reading came in. “So what’s the story behind this place? Sticks out more than I do.”

Musashi looked up from the floor plan he was looking at on the hood of the team’s van. “Some rich foreigner from England came and bought out this part of the city sometime before the Incursion. Used to be a school, but it was shut down after a freak gas leak killed most of the students. Locals believe it to be haunted ground and the city demolished it since the incident effectively killed the school permanently. Do you have anything?”

Solomon nodded as his display lit up in his eye, “Yeah, I got something. There’s definitely ‘a’ daemon in there, but the reading’s scattered. It’s somewhere in the main house from what I’m reading.” Reaching to draw his Hi-Power and rack the slide. “Dunno about you lot, but time is money.” He said as he stepped to open the double gate only to be stopped by a hand on his shoulder as one of Musashi’s men edged past him.

“You’re going in behind us kid. Be a good boy and stay out of our way.” the one that edged past him said as he and another member of the team pulled the double gates open, the rest of the team filtering in with their guns raised and scanning the grass.

Solomon growled and jerked his head back at Musashi, yanking his shoulder free from the man's hand. “I'm going to request that you stay outside for now and scan for any daemons. I don’t need my men distracted thinking they need to babysit you while inside.”

Solomon snorted and was about to lay into him but was stopped by Andras’ voice.

Don’t make things difficult for yourself, Summoner, your chance will come.

Grunting, he stepped aside to let the older man pass. “Whatever. I’ll do a few rounds and follow inside, with or without your permission.” Musashi only nodded and followed after his team, who were already at the manor’s doors and entering.

Kicking the ground, Solomon stole a glance back at the van and truck where his handlers were. They weren’t in immediate sight but the headset beeping into his ear gave him his answer.

“Hunter, Come in Hunter, this is a check.” Seiko’s voice filtered in as Solomon reached to press the switch on the earpiece. “I hear you Police Girl. I’m gonna be around the back, shout if something happens out front.”

“Roger, good hunting!” He heard her giggle to herself before the call cut. Taking a long sigh before drawing his gun and making his way around the back. One eye glued to his visor’s screen as the scattered reading ebbed and flowed. Walking along the wrap-around porch of the manor’s first level, he noted that despite being abandoned, the outside there was a remarkable lack of dirt; as if someone regularly swept it. Looking up at the dusted outside ceiling fans that were spaced evenly along the overhang. Noting the decor of the ceiling. Stars.

Curious. That’s not just random patterns. Ursa Major. Orion. Gemini. Someone’s a fan of astrology.

“I guess rich folk have particular tastes,” Solomon commented on hearing Morax’s voice. Taking a glance at the back as he rounded the corner. The back was a fully enclosed garden, though strangely more well-kept than the front. The back fence acting like a privacy screen with its high concrete wall. The back garden itself was a mix of hedgerows and flowerbeds. Another voice chipped in. The hooting owl-like voice of Stolas.

Hm, nightshade and hen bane. Not exactly something you’d stop and smell on a morning walk. And is it just me or is that statue in the center that of the crescent moon?

Solomon noted it as well. Curiously, it was depicted as the crescent pointing up. Making him subconsciously brush the patch on his jacket bearing the same moon, wondering if it was a coincidence but shaking it off as soon as the feeling came. Making sure he was fully alone, he stepped off the porch into the garden, taking a deep breath before barking out. “Decarabia!” Feeling his back heat up and burn, he willed a ball of energy to appear in front of him. Formless at first but soon morphing into that of a sparrow. The sparrow fluttered around chirping before landing on Solomon’s shoulder shaking itself off and looking at him intently.

“Keep an eye out here for me. ‘Bout time we ease our way in th---” A sudden deluge of gunfire broke the silence, coming from deep within the manor and his HCOMP’s readout lighting up like a flare in his eye. “Shit!” He cried, swinging the visor from his eye and rubbing it, taking a shaky start from the garden and running around to the front entrance, hearing his headset buzz in his ear.

“Officer Tani call HQ now, we need backup. The daemon is resistant to our weap--” Solomon heard Musashi cut off by a loud crash, the coms opening up freely, the sound of gunfire intensifying.

“Three! Look out!”

“Six, watch your leg!!”

“Fuck it’s got me! Hel---” A long drawn-out scream filled his ear as the gunfire ceased. Solomon, knowing the sound of someone being devoured uncomfortably well, pushed himself to run faster sliding to a halt in front of the main door ripping it open, and diving in.

Scrambling to fish out a flashlight as his eyes adjusted to the dim lighting of the main foyer. Looking about to see if there was a dust trail but cursed as he saw the inside was spotless like the porch. Reaching up to flip his visor back over his eye and set it to proximity scan, he bolted in the direction it showed the strongest signal. Cursing as the house proved to be inexplicably labyrinthine, he was vaguely aware that he was going inward, only slowing down to notice bullet holes in the hallway and long gouges in the wall itself. Following the breadcrumb trail of bullet casings, he rounded the corner. Spotting a set of double doors ajar. Slowing down he paid closer attention to his surroundings, his HCOMP’s radar lighting up brighter as he pressed an ear up to the door. Not hearing anything, he peeked into what looked like a grand dining room, what used to be one. Tables and chairs were upturned and smashed, bullet holes pockmarking the walls leading up to the large fireplace at the end of the room. Stepping in as silently as he could, Solomon scanned the room, noticing a discarded SMG and helmet near the fireplace. Bloody streaks leading up to it gave him the impression that whatever the others ran into must’ve dragged one of their number up into the chimney kicking and screaming.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Solomon leveled his gun at the fireplace, quickly checking he had a round chambered before creeping forward. Keeping a wide berth from it as he edged toward the side door that was kicked down. Holding his breath as he edged forward shining his light directly into the fireplace, he was made aware of pooling blood, faintly hearing sounds of chewing as the flow increased. Realizing whatever attacked the others was still in there he cut his light off, contemplating what to do. On one hand; he had the daemon alone and in a choke point; on the other, it stood up to six trained men lighting it up with automatic fire and forced them to beat a hasty retreat, definitely killing at least one of them. And all he had was a semi-auto pistol of the same caliber as the ADOTF’s SMGs and Solomon knew he still had his cheaper ammo loaded and he was willing to wager the Japanese were using better ammo than him.

“I advise caution, Summoner, focus on regrouping with the easterners before fighting.”

Solomon was inclined to agree with the voice of Eligor, slowly backing away, better to risk the long way than be in grabbing distance from the fireplace. At least that was his thought process before his foot landed on a broken chair leg and his leg flung out from under him making him land with a surprise yelp as he landed on his rear. Clamping his hand over his mouth as the chewing stopped and he heard a loud thud hit the ground. Retrieving his light and shining it to the fireplace, he saw the half mangled corpse of one of the Japanese. Most of his bottom half chewed off and his face twisted in a death mask of pained terror, eyes completely white, signifying the man’s soul had been consumed first.

Solomon scrambled to his feet as he saw a pair of tendrils creep out. Wrapping themselves around the firebox’s edge as whatever it was pulled its black mass out. His HCOMP beeped rapidly as the mass came out fully and started to straighten, craning his head back as it started to tower over him. Standing at least three meters was a semi-humanoid shape. Thick whip-like arms lay flat on the floor. Its body slender, skin looking tough with a black reptilian leather appearance, showing no signs of damage from being shot at. Its humanoid head devoid of anything but a single large red eye that was boring into him. Solomon stepped back as it whipped its arms back, smashing deep gouges into the wall behind it.

Scan complete. Advise caution. Daemon level: Six

Solomon gulped as the HCOMP’s report flashed in his eye. “Shit…” He cursed lowly, leveling his gun at the daemon, shooting a quick glance back where he came. The daemon sensed his intention and let out a low growl. Its torso split open in quarters, revealing its body being one big mouth with rows of sharp, very bloody teeth with bits of uniform and bone caught between them.

Summoner, run!

Solomon wasn’t going to argue, jumping back as the thing whipped an arm at him smashing the floor where he had been. Peppering it with shots as he backed away. The low-end ammo only lighting up brief flashes as it spattered on its hide. The daemon’s other arm wrapped around one of the chunks of the grand dining table near it and whipped it around; hurling it at him and forcing him to roll to the side, the table sailing clear past him and crashing into the double doorway he had come from leaving a sizable pile of shattered wood blocking the way.

Cursing loudly, Solomon shot at it again, dodging another swing of the thing’s arm. He looked frantically for another escape route but found none that wouldn't take him through where it was standing. The thing’s mouth clicked as its eye gleamed in anticipation of capturing its new prey and swung again, driving Solomon into a corner as it stepped into the center of the room. Solomon emptied the rest of his mag into it after its swing. Predictably, his rounds weren't even so much as tickling it. Cursing as he hit the mag release focusing more on speed than accuracy as he let it fall freely and snatched a mag from his webbing; only fumbling for a second as he missed the mag well on the reload, tearing his eyes away from the daemon to look at what he was doing when he felt himself being grabbed as one of the daemon’s arms lashed out and hooked onto his webbing. Feeling himself being pulled off his feet, he yelled as the daemon flung him around. His worn webbing snapped from the strain, sending him crashing into the wall next to the fireplace. The drywall crumpled and absorbed the worst of the impact, but Solomon still cried out in pain as the wind was knocked out of him.

“Ahh fuck!” Groaning as he got to a sitting position and leveled his gun as the daemon turned to him tossing the tattered remains of his webbing aside as it took a step toward him. It was taking its time with him, and Solomon was feeling the pressure. Looking frantically, he spotted the discarded SMG of the dead officer, wondering how much it had left in its mag. Holstering his Hi-Power, he scrambled towards it, the daemon swung its arm overhead. Smashing the spot he was at, Solomon scooped up the SMG and leveled it at the daemon about to pull the trigger when a faint feminine voice stopped him.

Above you, the chandelier! It cried and without questioning he snapped his aim upward, dumping the mag at the chandelier’s mount. It came away with a loud snap, the daemon jerking its head up as the heavy mass of glass and metal crashed on top of it, letting out a screech as it was pinned down, its arms flailing wildly.

Solomon scrambled to his feet, tossing the SMG aside as he bolted to the side door and running as fast as his feet to carry him, taking the most winding path he could till he heard the voice again. To your left, the door to the basement stairs. Solomon dove for the door quickly opened it and slipped in, bolting it shut when he noticed it had locks on the inside and backed away, crying out as he slipped and half tumbled the flight of stairs and landing in a heap at the bottom sore but uninjured.

Groaning, he picked himself up onto his feet, taking stock of his situation. He still had his flashlight and Hi-Power. It had only one mag loaded and in his haste, he wasn’t sure if he grabbed the magazine loaded with the high-quality daemon killers and not the cheapo ammo he mainly used since he always top-loaded the cheap stuff first.

“Fan-fuckin’-tastic, really putting your best foot forward.” He muttered to himself, shining the light down both ways of the hallway he found himself in, jerking his gun up as the decorative wall sconce lights turned on, dimly lighting the hall and letting him take in the classical style the house had going for it for the first time. Stowing his light way but still sweeping, he pressed the call switch of the headset. “Oi! Who’s still alive out there?” He asked, slowly creeping down the hall, taking care to step on the rug running down the length so he did not cause unneeded noise. His headset buzzed as a fuzzy voice came in.

“Hunter! This is Musashi, we’re down one man and scattered. The daemon clipped me with a piece of furniture and it sprained my ankle. I have one of my men helping me limp along, we’re on the upper floors.” Solomon heard the older man clear his voice and barked. “Wolves Two through Five sound off! I have Seven with me. Currently on the second floor in the east wing.” A silence but soon the lines buzzed.

“This is Two,” A gruff voice called, Solomon recognized it as the one that shouldered past him earlier. “I’m in the west wing on the first floor. I heard a commotion come from the dining room. Take it that was you kid?”

“Three and Five here.” Two female voices called, “We think we’re a floor under you Captain, we found the breaker room and turned the power on. What are your orders?”

The line beeped again as Musashi clicked in. “You three try to regroup and find a way outside. Hopefully, that call for reinforcements came through. Hunter, where are you, and what intel you have on the daemon?”

Solomon looked behind him a final time to see if he didn’t have anything following him before turning the corner, unsure where to start with seemingly endless doors. “I managed to get myself down into the basement or something. I went down for sure.” He grunted as he rubbed a bruising spot on his shoulder where the webbing snapped. Something the older man caught.

“Are you hurt?”

“No, just a bit banged up but still walking fine. The daemon’s a level six. What kind of ammo you guys use? I think the chandelier I dropped on it did more damage than your bullets.” There was grumbling as Solomon heard Musashi fumble with something on the other line.

“They’re only rated to deal with daemons up to level three, four at the most.” Solomon cursed loudly and pressed the call button.

“Hey police girls, you read me? Better tell your bosses to get some backup here cuz in my professional opinion. Shit’s fucked!”

“Hunter! Yes, we read you. Aiko’s trying to get HQ on the line, but the line is busy. Looks like there’s been numerous SDMs popping up at once. Oh, wait on second---” There was a pause, but Solomon couldn’t help but jump as Seiko’s voice suddenly burst into a rage. “--Fucking limp dick--rah!. Sorry Hunter, Captain Musashi, but HQ is saying you’re on your own for now, all the other teams are being dispatched to deal with a daemon that appeared in the Castle.”

Solomon heard the line fill with the other team members complaining, only to be silenced by a sharp bark from Musashi. “Stop bellyaching like a pack of children, you’re trained operatives of the ADOTF and I expect you to act like it! Hunter, do you have any insight on a possible weak point? We tried with the eye, but our bullets just sparked off.”

“I may have bullets that can at least phase it, Gold Labels in 9mm are rated for fivers; six if fired through a Browning. The mag I have on me right now maybe it but if not I need to get my other spares. The thing ripped my webbing off when it threw me. They’re still in the dining room. Should be enough between the mags to fill up a couple of yours but all I had is one box so what’s in the mags is all I got till I can get outside and make an order.” Solomon explained as he crept through the hall, peeking into one of the rooms and just finding what looked like a wine bottle storage.

“I’m not about to risk more men on the hope that we can kill it with only a couple mags. Wolves, evade hostile as best as you can and regroup and get outside. Officer Tani, there are spare weapons and containment tape in our van, I need you and Officer Murakawa to be on containment detail. Call out if you see anything, hop to it!”

“Yes Captain!” The others sounded off before the line clicked off leaving Solomon to his own thoughts as he kept wandering the lower floor, briefly looking up as he heard thudding footsteps above him. Making him click his tongue; saying to himself, “Well, I wanted bigger bounties.”

You’d think growing up with us, you’d know better than to invoke Faustian wishes Summoner.” Chimed in the mocking voice of Asmodeus, seemingly amused despite the peril they were in. A few other voices murmured as if booing him.

“I don’t recall askin’ your input Asmodai.” Solomon gave an annoyed huff as he continued down the hall, noticing a door ajar. Flipping his visor back over to see the scanner readout, it was flashing so intensely he had to immediately flip it back with an uttered curse as he drew his gun and leveled it at the door, flicking the hammer down.

Taking tentative steps to minimize the sound of his approach, he fished his flashlight from his jacket pocket and held it ready, locking his wrists together in a harries style grip as he came to the door seeing it was dark but heard a shuffle from inside. Sucking in a breath, he gave the door a firm kick to send it open, clicking on his light to dazzle…a broom standing upright that clattered on the floor as soon as the door hit the wall and the room was illuminated to reveal what looked like a small servant’s quarters. Making Solomon visibly droop as he lowered the flashlight in a more casual grip but kept his gun level.

Well, sure showed that broom what’s for Summoner, maybe threaten the potted plant next. I think it looked at you crossways. Asmodeus snickered, only to be cut off with a yelp as if struck from whatever space existed in the Seal.

That’s enough out of you!” Another voice rang out that Solomon knew as Berith. Summoner, keep your wits about you, we are not alone down here.

Shining the light around the room as he stepped in he eyed the room. A few framed pictures of the countryside, a small desk with a potted plant that looked like some kind of ivy and a small book that was likely a journal, and the bed with a quilted cover that was done up neatly with not a speck of dust or dirt to be seen.

Clicking his tongue he shone the light onto the broom noting it to be a very old style of broom. Something a witch would ride on if any of those old Halloween decorations were anything to go by. Turning his head he saw a standing wardrobe and pointed his gun at it, hearing a slight shuffle from inside confirming his and Berith’s thoughts. Sucking in air through his nose, he barked while whipping the gun up to emulate recoil.

“BANG!”

“Uwhaaa!” With a crash, the double doors of the wardrobe swung open, and in a cascade of dresses and undergarments, a petite woman in a silken maid’s dress spilled onto the floor, crouched down and holding her head trembling and blubbering in fear. “Oh don’t hurt me, I mean no harm!” She pleaded in a fearful hiccup, making Solomon holster his gun and crouched down snapping his fingers.

“Oi, quiet down, if I wanted to hurt you I’d have shot you while you were still in there.” He said in English, annoyed, taking a better look at her as she turned her head up from the floor. The woman had mid-length brown hair tied under a maid’s bonnet and a fair but freckled complexion. She was completely normal save for being slightly transparent and her eyes having an ethereal green glow to them. “Name.” He demanded.

The maid sniffled and rubbed the distressed tears from her face. “Seraphina sir.” sitting upright on her knees looking miserable, reaching to grab her broom and clutch it tightly to herself. “I’m Master Huxley’s maid. I've been keeping watch on the manor since his passing.” She elaborated in accented English. Sniffing again. Solomon raised an eyebrow.

“What’s a spirit like you doing out here? Last I checked, your kind don’t stick around when their master’s dead.” Seraphina nodded.

“Normally yes I’d return to the home isle when Master Huxley would have passed on, but he bound me here to keep watch and ward off intruders.” Solomon snorted.

“Yeah, hiding in the closet, really scaring me shitless here.” Seraphina dropped her distress for a brief look of annoyance as she bonked Solomon in the nose with the handle of her broom. Solomon yelped, rubbing his nose and falling back on his rear as he warded off her swatting him with her broom.

“You brute! How dare you make fun of a helpless maiden when there’s a beast about!”

“Ow, ow! Hey! Stop, I get it, stop making noise, you’ll bring that fucker down on us!” rubbing his head as grabbed a hold of the offending broom. “When that thing show up?”

Seraphina, forgetting her offense, clutched her broom back close to herself. “I was sweeping the halls around the dining hall when those officers came in. Normally I’d try to scare them off but since they’re the law and likely have a warrant I didn’t want to reveal myself and have a priest called in to excise me. So I followed them, then when they came to the hall that... thing came out of nowhere and chased them into the dining hall and it grabbed one of them and it-” She sniffled and sobbed into the broom’s bristles, seemingly breaking down at the memory. “I fled soon after and hid in here. I didn't hear anything till right before you came crashing down the stairs.” She sniffled again, face not leaving her broom’s bristles as Solomon put his hand on his chin pondering.

“What's a level six doing in a place like this? They’re normally attracted to large population centers, not abandoned houses…wait.” Solomon paused, remembering a detail that Musashi mentioned about the house. “Hey, I was told this place used to be a school. Some kind of freak gas leak killed a bunch of kids, yeah?”

Seraphina looked up with a nod, rubbing her face with her sleeve. “Yes, an elementary school to be exact. The basement is actually part of the old building just remodeled with the manor built on top of it.” Solomon's eyes widened at the information his expression darkening as he stood up suddenly giving Seraphina a fright stammering out. “Sir? Why the sudden look?”

“That daemon’s after the Magnetite.” He looked up as the hanging light swayed, slighting as thumping footsteps passed over, making Seraphina whimper. “There a way outside from here?”

“Y-yes, there’s a double hatch that leads to the garden past the master’s study”

“And what about the upper floors?”

Seraphina paused and thought. “There’s a lattice that reaches down to the ground level on the east side balcony. That's where the observatory is.” Solomon nodded and put a finger to his headset, beeping it. “Oi Old-timer, there’s a lattice on the observatory balcony in the east wing, you and your buddy can climb down. The Daemon’s not after us, not if it doesn’t see us.”

“Copy Hunter, how did you find this out?” Musashi said from his side of the line. The sound of his squad mate helping move bleeding in over the line.

“I found a blueprint down here detailing the layout. I got a working theory on why a level six is in an abandoned house. You said this was a school before. That means a lot of residual Magnetite lingering around so that big fucker’s after a buffet.” Solomon explained hearing the sounds of the other Wolves coming in with complaints.

“So you want us to run away after it ate Six?!” The offended voice of what he picked out as Wolf Two came in.

“Stand down Two!” Musashi barked. “My order still stands, get outside and regroup at the gate. Officers Tani and Murakawa should be done marking the perimeter with containment tape by then, nothing short of a level eight can breach a containment wall without extended effort. We keep the daemon contained until HQ can bring in heavier firepower to subdue it. Get to it Wolves!”

“Yes Captain!” The surviving members called out before the line clicked off. Solomon took time to check what magazine he had loaded and groaned as he saw the red tips of the Red Labels. Cursing himself for grabbing the wrong one in his scuffle with the daemon. Turning to face the doorway.

“Take me to your master’s study, I need to confirm something.” He said stepping out. Seraphina followed with a stumble.

“W-wait, the master’s study is not to be touched; it was sealed when he passed on.” She said, coming to his side, eyes glancing at the ceiling as the thumping went across above them.

“Just making me wanna go there more Silky. It’s really in your best interest to help me here, otherwise everyone’s fucked.” Seraphina gave him a questioning look.

“What do you mean? Something with the beast?” Solomon nodded, flipping his visor down and changing a setting on his arm unit as he walked.

“The guy I was talking to said the containment tape will resist everything up to a level eight beating it down, if that daemon finds the Magnetite concentration here it’s gonna grow, and trust me you don’t want that. And I’m willing to bet your master knew exactly what he built this house over.” Seraphina’s eyes widened, the information clicking into place.

“The master did dabble in those kinds of arts but wouldn’t that dissipate? Surely there can’t be that much dormant.” Solomon finished his calibration and flipped the visor back up. Straining his eyes as he focused and saw the barest hints of red mist hanging around the floor.

“Magnetite is at its strongest concentration while the body’s young; combine that with the fact this was a school and most of them died very suddenly…well you do the math.” He said taking off in a run, following where the mist was getting thicker.

“Hey wait! I don’t even know your name sir!” Seraphina called after keeping pace behind him, taking to floating instead of using her legs.

“I’ll tell you when we make it through this, right now we gotta hustle!”