Thread: The Butcher's Bill (Prince x LeatrixSage)

Ethan had strapped his eyepiece in place and gave the room a slow inspection before Elisa's arrival. He had built the device himself and it provided him a unique advantage in his role as an investigator of the supernatural. The red lens had been fashioned from the inner eyelid of a demon he had killed in Africa. The demon was an ancient monster that had terrified local villagers for hundreds of years. It had come to the British Army's attention after two squadrons of infantry had fallen victim to its hunger. Ethan had volunteered to dispatch the threat and that demon had been the first he had ever killed. In its death, the corpse had yielded many mysteries as well as learnings through dissection, most notable was the revelation that he could use the demon's own eyelid to see their hidden source of mystical power - leylines that ordinary mortals could not see or feel. Magicians, of course, could tap that power, but even they did it blindly and through the laborious and complex arcana of spells. Demons, of all the supernatural creatures, could bend and control those unseen lines of magic that webbed our world. And besides seeing them, he could also detect the residue of their use and disturbance. Like an oily taint, or sometimes a smearing of black corruption, the demon magic left a tarry residue that faded slowly on the leylines. The residue also faded slowly on the demon itself after they used magic and its lingering traces enabled Ethan to see his foes despite often ordinary human appearances. In Miss Crowley's house, there were a few, weak leylines present and all looked untapped and clean of disturbance. Yet still, he thought he saw a slight darkness through his eyepiece. The residue of a habitual demon magic used in small amounts which seemed to drift in the air of this boarding house. His hand strayed unconsciously to rest on the grip of his pistol. Someone at the home had demon blood. Elisa entered the room suddenly and he fixed her with his gaze, saying nothing for a few long seconds. She was an attractive woman, no doubt respectable but of low birth like many of the girls at Miss Cromley's. And her green eyes were quite striking against the contrast of her red hair. But he inspected her curves not out of lust, though he did appreciate the nice swelling of her chest and the flare of her hips, but to seek any residue or lingering traces of magic. He saw none and unstrapped his eyepiece before standing to take her hand and, with a bow, give it a gentlemanly kiss. Lord Ethan Colton, he said as he straightened and gave her a reassuring smile. Such a contrast from the cold and alien gaze he had given her moments earlier through his red eyepiece. I take it your are the lady, Elisa? he asked as they sat back again. I'm sorry for the loss of your friend and I'm here to find the killer, he continued, studying her response carefully. I am Her Majesty's Royal Magical Crimes Investigator, and have reason to believe her killer was not a mortal human. Perhaps we can start by your telling me what you were doing with Claudia last night? When did you last see her? Who was she with? His smile remained on his face, casual and almost friendly, but his eyes were piercing and alert as he sought to catch every twitch of her face, wring of her hands and shuffle of her body.