When we landed, I brought the girl to meet my parents. Mostly, to pay respect to my mother, her mother-in-law. 

We walked through trees that belonged in autumn instead of at the end of winter. Reddish-orange leaves fluttered around us, some lingering on the smooth paved sidewalk. Others danced upon the trees they grew on. It’s almost a picturistic scene out of some movie, having trees on both sides like this. 

I led us down a fork towards a raging river that emptied into a lake. Right in the center of that lake were two coffins, floating with water lilies dancing around them. The sea blue coffin reminded me of the time we went to the beach when I was younger. How I got scared from seeing a shark’s fin in the water and my father wasted no time in diving in. Scaring it away before effortlessly carrying me back.  

Both of them surrounded me with a blanket and hugs. Their concern was evident in their posture and looks. It was clearly heard in their words and it was one of those events that made me realize I didn’t have a bad life.

I gestured at the bench with leaves draped across it. I sat down without further words and stared at the coffins that gleamed in the morning light. They both bobbled up and down, floating on the surface of the water next to each other as if they had no care in the world. 

The love between them when they were alive was evident by how their coffins never parted now. 

I would be amazed if I could have someone like that to share my life with. 

Shaking my head slightly, I sighed.

“Mother, I listened to you and found a decent girl with decent looks and great talent. I know, you said I must find a girl that I like, no matter if she was plain or not. But my position doesn’t allow me to interact much with others. So she will have to do it.” I spoke softly.

The girl looked at me before staring across the lake’s face at the two coffins. She glanced back with visible confusion. Questions littered her mind, it’s clear that she wanted to ask so much. However, given her position, she chose to keep quiet.

“You probably heard of her, but her name is Jeanne Hunt from the Hunt family. The branch of members that derived from grand-grand father’s brother. The ones who felt that they had to cleanse the underworld of filth.” I sighed, “Even though his descendants failed to uphold such principles. She isn’t all that bad, Mother. She has pretty light brown hair and a cute dimple smile.”

I spoke for a while longer, talking to my parents for an hour. Allowing their spirits which were in the heavens above to look down and bless my mating. 

I stood up and headed back. Jeanne followed me with quiet footsteps but loud thoughts. She kept glancing back and her usually stoic expression was muddy with conflicting thoughts. She failed to retain the shock and curiosity.

“If you are wondering, I cared much for my parents. They treated me very well and, honestly, I feel a sense of guilt at their deaths. Even if it wasn’t my fault, it still feels like I could have done something.”

My shoulders straightened and I picked up my steps.

I might have failed at prevention but even investigators failed at prevention. However, they work hard to shut down any further such crime.

I might not have had the forces the government did, but what I did have was the equipment. 

**

I just finished eating when a servant came in to tell me that FSB Agent wished to discuss something with me.

I am a bit curious as to what it could be?

A week has passed since I cleaned up my traitors, and those that had yet to betray hunker down more deeply. Nobody was willing to provide me a chance to find evidence on their secret dealings, but the losses that were happening, stopped. We began to rise all of sudden.

Power.

That is all I had to show.

I nodded and headed towards my library. I needed to shift through the expense data to begin with. It wouldn’t hurt to add one more burden to my day.

The agent came in with a sweeping black trench coat and suit that a male would wear. If you ignore her femine looking face, she would at most resemble a skinny male.

She tossed her badge towards me like we were long time friends. Given that she is older than me by more than a decade, I doubt that.

I flipped it open as she dropped into a seat.

“As you can read, I am Agent Smith. I worked in a very special department that tracks and takes care of otherworldly beings. However, you know that. You should also know..” She struggled for a moment to pull something out of her pocket. Having to use her other hand to pull at the coat to get it out before passing me a thick stack of folded papers.

I winced as I unfolded the mess and carefully read through it.

“As I was saying, you should know that your father also worked with us as a consultant. Often giving advice during cases as your families have much deeper grasp of the otherworlders than we do ourselves.” She looked at me, waiting for me to speak.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

I merely waved for her to keep rambling on.

“The contract is still valid, so you have to fill in for your old man. My car is outside, let's go.” She stood up and reached to snatch the contract.

Lightning flickered from my eyes and slapped away her hand. I heard her gasp and her feet shuffle back as she waved her hand. I finished going through the paperwork three times before sliding them into the desk drawer.

I picked up a bell and rang it before standing up.

“I see. Today will be the only day for such an impromptu visit. From now on you will call ahead or not even visit. If you do perhaps show up, you will be barred from entering the compound. Any attempt to force your way in will be perceived as a threat and we will detain you with all force needed.” I paused, held up my hand as my butler and Nancy entered.

“Prepare the carriage and my gear. We will be going on a short trip.” I finished speaking, walking towards the exit as the Agent who had a lot to say trembled while biting her lip.

**

We arrived at the scene, thirty minutes later. A woman resting in a warehouse near the harbor district. Well, to be more exact, someone sat up in a square room. Down to the plaster walls to the carpet, bed, dresser, even the bug net. Outside of the square room is a dining hall, then foyer leading to a garden that is well taken care of.

Even then, the warehouse space isn't’ used up. You could take a decent walk around the place and not walk out of it without knowing.

The woman was beautiful, like a movie star. Perfect looks, perfect hair, perfect body. Absolutely astounding.

Someone even took the time to dress her up in a rich green dress that matched her eyes. A beautiful rose necklace and simple bracelet made from braided silver.

Agent Smith looked at me as I walked around the bedroom. 

I didn’t have to pay much attention to details. You could see where she walked often in the room. The carpet might have been vacuum but the lines didn’t hide the way one section sort of sunk lower than the rest. Plus there was a groove on the window sill as if she was scratching it with something.

I walked to the dresser and began sifting through the jewelry and found an earring with paint stuck to the fine point.

Tapping my cane, I walked back to the body and looked it over. 

It is too well preserved, but if I kidnap a woman..

“How long was she missing for?” I shot a quick question to Agent Smith, who flipped open a notebook.

“Six days,” she replied.

So if I kidnap someone this beautiful, I would have had sex with them. If I was going to kill her, I would have done it one last time before leaving her body here. However…

My gloved finger pulled back at her lip and I sniffed. My nose instantly rejected the notion. Of course, a dead body wouldn’t be able to swallow. The semen might be stuck in her throat. Semen can smell depending on what you ate or drank. Sometimes it doesn’t even come close to smelling good. Other times, it can be scentless, but after a few days, it can begin to smell. Not strongly but sweat from a dick will smell regardless.

I moved down to her legs and saw bruising around the knees. I lifted her dress over her waist line with a little effort and pulled down her panites.

“Hey, what are you doing…” Agent Smith reached in to grab my hand but she received another shock.

I moved out of the way and pointed at the bruised vulva.

“Your victim has been sexually brutalized after death. Maybe, if you were anything more than a half cock detective you would have gone and discovered this already.” I pointed at the bruising on the ankle that was barely visible because someone had put makeup on that spot.

“Someone killed her, probably with poison. Then probably washed her in some kind of perservity before having his way with her corpse. So what you have here is someone who is probably very intelligent and understands the human body. I would first start with any doctors who lived near her. Track down their routine for the days before your corpse was kidnapped. If nobody is seen walking around or near that location. Then move on to the fifty radius mark from where the corpse frequents most. Keep in mind, your killer is someone with knowledge of herbal remedies and likely a medical doctor.”

Agent Smith wrote this down while I talked and once I stopped, she kept going before looking up with a face that said, ‘and ?’

I rolled my eyes. “This isn’t supernatural. There is a faint smell of something sweet and like you. I, at first, thought it was some kind of perfume but looked around. Do you see any kind of perfume?”

Agent Smith glanced around, “Nope.”

I walked into the bathroom to see half empty soap bottles and oils. 

“Your killer has a particular taste. You can also check with any local doctors wives or girlfriends, mistresses or whatever they have. Check if any of them have any kind of brand like these. Next, you might have to get personal. Ask them what kind of positions they prefer. Because your killer likes it very imitate with the knees raised. He sometimes likes to grab the ankles. Maybe, he pulls them to the edge of the bed or licks their feet.”

Agent smith looked at me sideways, “How does that help solve the case? Almost ninety percent of men will probably have fucked someone in such a common position. Give me something useful and not your fancies.”

I rolled my eyes and walked to the body. “Look at the finger prints, it is underneath the knee.”

She lifted up the leg and studied it for a second.

“Okay, and?”

“If I was fucking you from behind and moved your knee. It would be at the thighs or on the forefront of your knees. The ending of my fingers, but the ending of his fingers is under the bend. It means he was kneeling down in bed and moving her knee into position. Also, if he fucked her on her stomach…” I rolled the woman over, brought her back to her back. Then rolled her over once more, for the detective.

“Notice where I place my hands and notice there is no bruising. Plus ass people like to grab the ass but as you can see, all the bruising is on this side of her vulva and thighs. That’s all I have without stripping the corpse but your forensic team can delve up a more detailed report for you.” I finished and placed my cane down with a thud, crossing both hands over the orb.

Agent Smith studied the bruising carefully before huffing.

“Oh, okay. You might be right.”

I rolled my eyes, “you are usually on desk duty, huh?”

Agent Smith snorted, “No, I am the one that goes primary after preps after the investigating teams finds them. Someone up top thought I had a violent track record and so I’m on punishment duty for a while.”

Agent Smith gestured outside and headed out. 

“What I am confused about is how all this fit inside of this warehouse. You saw the outside, the dimensions are off. If this place was as big as it is on the inside on the outside, then it would be cutting into the other warehouses. Someone would have complained if that was the case. So what I want to know is what kind of artifact that can do this?” She swept her hand into the air.

I tapped my cane twice and released the dispel. The surroundings rippled for a moment before sustaining themselves.

“Someone very powerful and good with illusions. Good luck.” I ran away, leaving her in shock.