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

Ethan's body tightened when he saw Elisa stiffen and visibly struggle to control her anger at being called a lady. The fingers of his free hand relaxed open, ready to grab the pistol beneath his coat, and the hand holding his leather bag let one of the handles drop to better be able to reach inside. He drew his mind in tight, wary of a leyline being used against him. His bowler hat, now back on his head, was lined with iron and was the last additional bit of defense he had. He had no idea what Elisa's powers were or how strong she was and he eyed her alertly, a wound coil ready to spring. To his surprise, he saw no magic and felt no attack, instead she charged him and accosted him with a reassuringly mundane and normal fit of womanly rage. It almost made him smile in relief compared to the dreadful demonic attack he had expected. Tears formed in her eyes as she stormed up to him to stare him in the eye, challenging him to defy her. She was evidently overwhelmed by the death of her friend and didn't want him poking around her items. There was real anger and emotion, but he was suspicious as to why she was so virulent in her demand that he not go upstairs? Surely she realized he could return with a patrol of policemen and upend the entire boarding house if he desired. Or he could simply barge by her right now, assuming she had no magical ability to stop him. They seemed to realize together how close she had come in her angry tirade, her face below him and turned up slightly. He could lean down and kiss her pouting, full lips if he so desired. The curve of her bosom was so close to his own chest, her deep breaths threatened to press those soft mounds against him. His tongue froze, his angry response forgotten for a second as he stared into her teary eyes. Then she stepped back, cheeks coloring slightly as she regained her composure and wiped some tears from her face, looking behind her nervously. Ethan was sure she had not manipulated a leyline or worked any other magic on him, but he shook his head to clear it nonetheless feeling as if he had been spelled by her beauty and raging emotion at such close range. ...Elisa, he said, making the absence of Lady somehow quite noticeable, While I understand you are emotional. This is my job and I will inspect this house, whether or not you wish me to. And if I need to restrain you to do my job, I will. He gave her a cold, stern stare and gathered himself to force by her guard and proceed upstairs. Suddenly a blood curdling shriek came from the floor above and both Elisa's and his own eyes widened in surprise. Without asking, he rushed by her and raced up the stairs with his pistol out. He took them two at a time and turned the corner towards the sounds of a sobbing girl standing before an open door. He darted past the shocked girl and entered a small room with a wooden bed and wooden wardrobe. The room was in complete disorder, as if a whirlwind had spun through and emptied every article from the wardrobe out. Clothing, bags, makeup, cheap jewelry, shoes, boots and papers were strewn everywhere. The mattress had been flipped over and the sheets torn off. Even the cheap paintings on the walls had been torn down and thrown to the floor. The window was open and the breeze stirred the heavy draperies lightly. But what troubled Ethan most was the taint of demon magic that lay heavily in the room. A dark and slick residue on everything, but also a stronger and pulsing overlay on top of the older signs, faint leyline's still twisted and snarled with the red aura of demon magic glowing about them. A very fresh and strong trace of demon magic, magic used within the past couple hours. Someone's ransacked Claudia's room... the killer has been in here! sobbed the girl.