Monsterhearts:Between Two Evils

Thursday August 21st, 7:00 PM
Wildomar, Inland Valley Hospital
**Illiadius**: **Rolling for Liam to** **Gaze into the Abyss** **2 + 3** **+ 2 Dark** **is 7. Vision is alarming and vague.** **Marking Experience**

**Images of rain appear before Liam's mind, feverish and quick in succession.**

**Shane**: **His voice rings through the rain.** *This one's special isn't it? I can feel it!* **There's a flash of Shane standing in the rain with a wide smile, a silver pendant falls from his hand, dangling on a chain. Steam rises from it.**

**Nemo**: **His voice echoes in response, from somewhere beyond Liam's vantage point.** Take it. It won't help you against *me*.

**Shane**: *I don't need it for you.* **He starts laughing and turns, running. As he turns his surroundings shift, and he's suddenly running into Liam's house.**

**Otis**: Liam, that you? I told you to come home straight after sch-**His voice cuts off, and flashes of Shane ripping Liam's father limb from limb appear, accompanied by the sounds of horrible screaming.**

***Meanwhile...***

**Chris**: **He's still in his snake form as he pulls at the locked basement door with all of his strength.** Come... On... **His hands slip from the handle and he stumbles backwards, almost falling. After a moment he turns and looks at the pile of sickly flesh, laying in a pool of its own blood, that disgusting nurse creature he killed.**

**A few minutes pass, when suddenly there's a loud slam on the locked door.**

**Orion**: **His voice comes muffled from the other side.** Chris? Are you down here?

**Chris**: **He turns and looks at the door.** Uncle Orion?! **He runs up against the door.** I'm here!

**Orion**: The door is locked!

**Chris**: I think I'm going to have to go back around! **He looks back towards the set of double doors that lead back to the storage room.**

**Orion**: Grab the other end and pull on my count, got it?

**Chris**: **he looks back to the door, and then runs up, grabbing the door handle.** Got it!

**Orion**: Three... Two... One! **There's a slamming sound as he pushes against the door with all his strength.**

**Chris**: **He pulls the handle as hard as he can.**

**After a moment the lock in the door lets out a loud cracking sound, and the door flies open, causing Orion to stumble into the room, and Chris to stumble backwards.**

**Chris**: **As he stumbles, his tail rushes down and props him up, keeping him from falling. He seems a bit surprised, as moving the tail is clearly just second nature, despite having gotten it hours ago. He looks to his uncle.** How'd you know where I was?

**Orion**: **He dusts his shoulder off.** We can sense one another if one of us is transformed. I came looking for- What the hell is that!? **He sees the remains of the Masked Nurse and covers his mouth and nose with the back of his hand.**

**Chris**: **He shakes his head.** Just another monster in a long line of nightmare-inducing things I've had to deal with... Let's get the hell out of here. I need a shower.

**Orion**: **He takes a step towards the nurse to get a better look at it. After a moment he turns and follows after Chris.** ...You had to fight *that*?

**Chris**: **He just nods.**

**Orion**: What the hell was it? **The two of them walk out into an underground hall, it's similar to the one that connected the boiler room to the last room, but it's shorter.**

**Chris**: No one knows what they are, or where they're coming from. **He pulls out the two pendants and holds them up for his uncle to see.** But whoever is sending them, sends them to retrieve these.

**Orion**: **He eyes them for a moment.** What are they? **He puts the back of his hand over his mouth and nose again, smelling the chemical toxic smell emanating from them.**

**Chris**: Some kinda trinkets that imbue their holders with magic. Witchcraft or something maybe, I've got no idea really. All I know is that if Shane gets ahold of them, he can cause a *lot* of damage. **He puts them away.** So what were you saying earlier?

**Orion**: Huh? Oh... I came looking for you because that patient that was struck by lightning, he's the boy that was with you at the Totenkopf's the other night.

**Chris**: **He looks at Orion strangely.** ...What?

**Orion**: He's blind, Chris. Whatever that "lightning" did, it burned up the inside of his eyes. Specifically his eyes. I'm not sure how good of friends you were, but you should probably go see him...

**Chris**: **He looks down, feeling strangely bad for Liam, despite how pissed he's been at him the last few days.** ...Alright.

***A few minutes later...***

**Orion**: **They're in the parking lot, walking towards Orion's car.** We should do something about that... Thing in the basement.

**Chris**: I think there's a woman that studies them. I'll get her number from Odie later.

**Orion**: **He's with Chris out at his car.** On the first floor there's a small locker room with a shower, it's in the A-Wing, just passed room 124. **He pulls out some clothes.** These should fit. **They look rather plain compared to what Chris normally wears, just a white button up shirt and black slacks.**

**Chris**: You carry an extra pair of clothing with you everywhere? **He raises an eyebrow and smirks.**

**Orion**: Some times working in the E.R. is messy, other times, I just need a shower. **He holds the clothes out to Chris.**

**Chris**: Well I'm glad. **He grabs the clothes.**

**Orion**: **His pager goes off, and he pulls it from his pocket to look at it.** ...Looks like your friend just woke up. I gotta go. He's on the second floor, room 203, got it?

**Chris**: Yeah.

**Orion**: **He turns and runs off into the hospital.**

***Another few minutes later, in Liam's room...***

**Orion**: **He's walking into Liam's room. Officer Bishop is standing next to Liam's bed.** ...What's going on here?

**Officer Bishop**: **She looks from Liam to Orion.** Are you Dr. Nadergal?

**Orion**: It's Nadrageel, and yes. **He looks to Liam.**

**Liam**: **He's just sitting up in bed, facing forward. There's white bandages wrapped over his eyes and around his head. When he awoke it was with a cry for help, but after being calmed down, and with the arrival of detective Bishop he hasn't said anything.**

**Officer Bishop**: This boy has been here for how long?

**Orion**: At least three hours. **He crosses his arms over his chest.** What's all this about? My patient has *just* woken from a procedure, who let you in here?

**Officer Bishop**: **She moves up closer to Orion and whispers to him quietly.** His father was found dead at their residence, after an anonymous 9-1-1 call.

**Orion**: **He looks passed Officer Bishop to Liam for a moment. He shakes his head. He whispers back.** ...Well he had nothing to do with it. He was rushed to the E.R. about four hours ago after being struck by lightning. I performed an outpatient procedure in an effort to save his eyesight...

**Officer Bishop**: Struck by lightning? **She turns and looks at Liam then back to Orion.** ...Well if the mother shows, give the police station a call. We can't seem to get a hold of her, and she may be missing.

**Liam**: My mom left two weeks ago... **He looks down.** I don't know where she is... Said she might go to North Carolina, but she always lied about where she'd go before... Don't see why she wouldn't this time...

**Officer Bishop**: **She turns and looks at Liam.** Why'd she leave?

**Liam**: My parents fought a lot.

**Officer Bishop**: ...I'm sorry, but it's my job to ask this. Could she do something like this?

**Liam**: No... She was mean, but I don't think she'd kill anyone.

**Orion**: Officer, my patient is tired, can't you ask him these questions later?

**Officer Bishop**: **She looks to Orion.** Just one more, and I'll let him rest... **She looks back to Liam.** Did your father have anything in common with Cordelia Foxx? The principal at your school? Did they know one another?

**Liam**: Not that I know of... He was ripped apart, just like she was... Wasn't he?

**Officer Bishop**: **She looks down.** Thank you for your time, Mr. Riley. If we learn anything, I'll contact you. **She turns and heads out of the room.**

**Chris**: **He's walks out of the elevator down the hall from Liam's room. He sees Officer Bishop walking from one of the rooms and pauses, wondering what she's still doing here. He moves down the hall towards Liam's room.**

**Officer Bishop**: **She's getting a coffee from one of the vending machines in hall, halfway to the elevator. She grabs the Styrofoam cup and moves down the hall towards Chris and the elevator. When she spot Chris she almost seems disappointed. She walks up to him.** You again. **She says it almost with an accusing tone.**

**Chris**: **He narrows his eyes as he stops.** Shouldn't I be saying that to you?

**Officer Bishop**: You know Liam Riley?

**Chris**: I go to school with him.

**Officer Bishop**: Seems like a lot of your friends are in the hospital Mr. Courier.

**Chris**: Am I a suspect, Officer?

**Officer Bishop**: Possibly.

**Chris**: *Possibly*? **He's getting annoyed with her, not wanting to deal with a cop after the day he's had.** You're either a suspect or you're not.

**Officer Bishop**: If you keep showing up at every scene of crime and subsequent questioning, there's a high *possibility* that you will *become* a suspect, Mr. Courier. Where have you been for the last few hours?

**Chris**: You saw me three hours ago, I was with Leo and Odie. What kind of question is that?

**Officer Bishop**: I *saw* you for all of five minutes, Mr. Courier, and under suspecting circumstances no less. Now I *see* you again, and you've got a change of clothes. Do you have an alibi for the time between *then* and *now*?

**Chris**: **He sighs in frustration.** I was in the ICU, ask the nurse there. Kira is her name I think, asian, about five feet tall or something. You can call the girl I told you about yesterday too, Lilith. She was with me for a while after you left. I changed my clothes because it's raining outside and they were soaked.

**Officer Bishop**: **She looks Chris over, taking a sip from her coffee.** We'll be in touch, Mr. Courier... **She walks passed him, towards the elevator.**

**Chris**: **He lets out another sigh and then jogs to Liam's room, going inside.**

**Orion**: **He's standing next to Liam's bed with the patient report.** The procedure I performed was to try and expose your retina to oxygen, in the hopes that the nerve endings might heal...

**Liam**: **He's looking down, and has gone back to being silent.** Thank you... But I don't think my sight... Will be coming back.

**Chris**: What happened Liam?

**Liam**: **He tilts his head slightly.** ...Chris?

**Chris**: Yeah, it's me. **He walks up to the side of Liam's bed.**

**Orion**: **He looks at Chris for a moment, then back to Liam.** The procedure was outpatient, meaning that you don't have to stay in the hospital overnight.

**Liam**: I don't have anywhere to go... **He frowns and tilts his head downward.** Shane went to my house and killed my dad.

**Chris**: **He looks at his uncle for a moment, surprised to hear Liam say that, then back to Liam.** You can stay with me, Liam... Like a sleep over.

**Liam**: It's fine... You don't want anything to do with me. You don't have to pretend to feel sorry for me.

**Chris**: **He shakes his head, looking down. After a moment he moves forward and grabs Liam's hand.** I think you've suffered enough... I'm not going to go out of my way to make you feel worse now...

**Liam**: **He frowns and looks away from Chris. He whispers quietly.** Shane got a Sigil, Chris. I think he stole it from Nemo...

**Chris**: Nemo? What the hell was Nemo doing with one of those Sigils?

**Liam**: I don't know.

**Chris**: What the hell happened today Liam?

**Liam**: ...I went to school... Didn't know it was canceled for today. Nemo was there... He said... **He shakes his head.** I made a deal with him. He'd teach me how to use... Witchcraft I guess... Helped me figure out how to see things...

**Chris**: ...But he wanted something in return, didn't he?

**Liam**: **He nods.**

**Chris**: **He narrows his eyes.** Did he take your eyes, Liam?

**Liam**: No, *he* didn't... But there was this boy... Man... He looked older than us... Dressed in white... Weird clothing... He was chasing Shane. Nemo said he was a demon hunter, and he was dangerous. He was going to kill Shane, so I tried to stop him. I disabled Shane, Nemo got him, and fled with him on his motorcycle... The Demon Hunter was pissed... I tried to explain that this was all an accident... But he grabbed my head and burned out my eyes, using some kind of power... He said without sight, maybe I'd finally see all the pain I'd brought to everyone else... I think this blindness is my punishment.

**Chris**: **He looks back and forth, another person that have to worry about with power.** What did he look like? Did you see?

**Liam**: **He sighs.** ...My height... Maybe slightly taller... Athletic build... He was really fast, and strong... Tanned skin... Brown or black hair... The rain made it hard to tell... I don't remember much else. It happened fast.

**Chris**: And he... Did this to you?

**Liam**: He has this... Power... He can burn people up from the inside. At least that's what it looks and feels like... He's also really good at fighting, Chris. He's not like Shane, where he's just really strong, he's like... A kickboxer or something... He was actually beating Shane in a straight up fight...

**Chris**: **He bites the inside of his lip.** Well let's get you out of here, in case he comes back. **He looks at his uncle.** You can stay with me until all of this gets sorted out.

**Liam**: **He's suddenly hugging Chris. He whispers quietly.** I'm sorry all of this is happening... I'm sorry... I'm sorry...

**Chris**: **His eyes go wide for a moment and then he looks back to Liam, patting him on the back lightly.** ...You didn't mean for any of this to happen Liam... Neither of us knew, or even really know, just what the fuck is going on around us... **He feels so bad for Liam that after a moment he hugs him back.** Let's just get you out of here, alright? Odie's back, he's going to help us deal with all of this.

**Liam**: **He nods.** Thanks... Chris...

**Chris**: Yeah... No problem...

***About forty-five minutes later, in Chris's room...***

**Chris**: **He helps Liam over to his couch.** The couch is just behind you, you can sit.

**Liam**: **He feels around for a moment and then sits down, sighing. He feels tired.**

**Orion**: **He walks up the stairs after a moment with two small bottles in his hands. He puts one in Liam's hand.** These are your pain killers. Basic NSAID, like Tylenol, just a higher dose. Take two of them every six hours. I've made two bumps in the lid, can you feel them?

**Liam**: **He runs his finger over the lid.** ...Yeah. I can.

**Orion**: This second bottle is only if you have trouble sleeping. It's a mild sedative. **He puts it in Liam's other hand.** There's four bumps on the top.

**Liam**: **He nods, feeling them.** Thanks...

**Orion**: Last but not least, I took one of the assistant buttons from the hospital. **He sets it down on the table.** I'm putting it on the table to your right. If you need anything, or feel especially sick, pick it up and press the button on it, and it'll send me a page.

**Liam**: Thanks... A lot, Doctor...

**Orion**: Just call me Orion. **He nods silently.**

**Liam**: ...That's... A really cool name. **He smirks solemnly.**

**Orion**: **He takes a deep breath and looks at Chris.** I'll let you two get settled in. I'm going to go tell Agatha we have a guest. **He turns and walks out of the room through the hall exit.**

**Liam**: **After a long silent pause he speaks.** Nemo said you didn't want anything to do with me...

**Chris**: I didn't. **He realizes that probably sounds mean.**

**Liam**: I understand why...

**Chris**: I think Nemo's manipulating us... Not that we really have much of a choice either way.

**Liam**: **He nods slightly.** ...Yeah. There's so much going on, it's impossible to figure out just what we're supposed to do.

**Chris**: There's no *right* choice... **He sits down on the couch next to Liam.** Everything I do just makes things worse...

**Liam**: Yeah... Choice? He said you found a way to save Shane without me, without... Your mother I think...

**Chris**: He didn't tell you? **He shakes his head.** I think he was trying to divide us, for some reason... He offered to help me over my mother. Said he could save Shane I would just have to... Do something for him. I agreed to it, and I think I'm going to regret it.

**Liam**: **That catches his ear.** Odie's boss is back in town... I saw him this morning at the school. Maybe he can help us.

**Chris**: Yeah... I'm... Supposed to call him actually. **He stands up, having completely forgot.** Shit... Give me a sec.

**Liam**: Sure... **He leans back against the couch.**

**Chris**: **He quickly moves over to his phone, dialing 4 1 1.** Yes, I need the number for Murdoc's Detective Agency... Elsinore California... **He grabs a pen from his desk and starts writing down the number.** Thanks. **He waits for the operator to change him over.**

**It rings a few times before it's picked up.**

**Murdoc**: **His gruff voice is heard over the phone.** Paranormal Detective Agency, Detective Murdoc speaking.

**Chris**: Detective! You *are* back, did Odie call you?

**Murdoc**: Who is this?

**Chris**: Oh... This is Chris, Chris Courier, we sorta met last friday when you were leaving to go out of town.

**Murdoc**: I spoke with Odie earlier, filled me in on a lot, Mr. Courier. Said you were involved with the murder at the high school that occurred yesterday.

**Chris**: It's bigger than just that murder, Detective. I was hoping you could help us out.

**Murdoc**: Yeah I've been playing catch up all day, come down to my office, we'll talk.

**Chris**: Tonight?

**Murdoc**: Yeah, think I'll be working overtime to solve this one.

**Chris**: ...Yeah... Umm... **He looks back at Liam.** I'll be there in about an hour... How's that sound?

**Murdoc**: Alright, I'll be waiting. **He hangs up.**

**Chris**: **He hangs up and turns to look over at Liam.** You think you're up to take a trip down to that Detective's?

**Liam**: I'm pretty tired... We're not leaving for an hour you said?

**Chris**: Yeah.

**Liam**: I'm going to take a nap then...

**Chris**: **He runs into his closet and pulls out a pair of large pillows and a blanket.** The couch folds out into a bed, if you want.

**Liam**: I think I'm fine just sleeping like this... **He lays back on the couch, not able to see Chris grabbing the pillows and blanket, since he's *blind*.**

**Chris**: I got some pillows and a blanket for you if you need them.

**Liam**: **He holds his hands out.**

**Chris**: **He gives him one of the pillows.**

**Liam**: **He puts it behind his head, then holds out his hand for the blanket.**

**Chris**: **He hands him the blanket.** ...I'll wake you up in an hour, before I go.

**Liam**: **He nods, laying his head back and pulling the blanket over him.** ...Thanks Chris.

**Chris**: You don't have to keep thanking me. **He shakes his head.** I'm going to talk... With my mother... I hope.

**Liam**: I'll be here... Sleeping I guess.

**Chris**: I'll be back. **He turns for the door and murmurs to himself.** ...I hope. **He makes his way down the hall, and out into the foyer, clutching the sigils in his pocket. He looks around the house.**

**There's talking coming from the foyer floor. It sounds like Chris's mother and another woman. They're not speaking english.**

**Chris**: **He furrows his brow and tilts his head for a moment before walking up to the balcony and looking down into the foyer.**

**At the foot of the grand stair stands Chris's mother, she's speaking to another woman facing away from Chris, she has very long black hair that tumbles in curls and waves down passed her waist. The hair has an iridescent quality to it, like a raven's feathers.**

**Natalya**: Ich werde das Haus für eine Million kaufen. **She and the other woman start to walk towards the front entrance.**

**Lorelei**: Du bist eine Schlange, wie immer Natalya, die Sie nie ändern... **She stops walking and turns, looking up directly at Chris.** Wer ist der gut aussehender junger Mann, der uns beobachtet?

**Natalya**: **She looks up at Chris.** Das ist mein Sohn. Er spricht nur Englisch.

**Lorelei**: **She speaks with a thick german accent.** You must be zeh young man zat has dravn my daughter's eye.

**Chris**: You're Karen's mother? **He starts to make his way along the balcony and down the stairs to greet her.**

**Lorelei**: **As he gets closer to her it's obvious that something is slightly "off" about her. Her eyes seem to shift color with the light, and her skin is so fair it looks like porcelain, and almost seems to glow softly.** That I am.

**Natalya**: This is Baroness Lorelei, Matriarch of the Totenkopfs... She's flown to America to see to her son's affairs. Baroness, this is my son, Chris.

**Lorelei**: I vas told zat you were prezent ven the creature killed him.

**Chris**: ...Yes, it was... Terrible. **He looks at his mother for a moment, feeling suddenly nervous. He looks back to Lorelei.**

**Lorelei**: I've lost two boys to zeh powers of hell it would seem. Both in the new world. **She shakes her head.** Your mother tells me that zhe means to order this wilderness. Put a stop to zeh terrible zings zat are 'appening here, as my son, Edward, did. **She looks to Natalya.** Perhaps zeese monsters need another monster to control zhem. **She smirks smugly.**

**Natalya**: **She looks to Lorelei with a fierceness that Chris hasn't seen her look at anyone else before, her face seems to almost darken with a seething rage. After a moment she looks back to Chris.** The Baroness and I have come to an agreement. I will be purchasing the Totenkopf estate from her.

**Chris**: ...What? Why? **He looks to his mother with concern and confusion.** And I thought that the library wasn't owned by the Totenkopfs.

**Lorelei**: It izen't, but zat doezen't mean ve can't zell zee rest of it. Zeh library vill simply be left alone until zee owners are con-tacted. I have a flight to catch, auf wiedersehen, Lady Nadrageel, and son. **She looks to Natalya, then turns and heads for the door.**

**Natalya**: Until we meet again, Baroness...

**Lorelei**: **She raises her hand, motioning farewell without looking back. As she reaches the doors they open on their own and she walks out into the rain. They shut behind her with an obnoxiously loud slam.**

**Natalya**: **She narrows her eyes at the doors. It's obvious that there's no love lost between she and Lorelei, but neither openly says so. She turns and heads for the stairs.**

**Chris**: Mother, wait. **He pulls the Sigils from his pocket.** Do you know what these are?

**Natalya**: **She stops, halfway up the steps and turns to look at him.** Yes.

**Chris**: What are they? Please, tell me?

**Natalya**: Artefacts. **She turns and continues heading up the stairs.** I am to assume that you haven't gleaned the name of the demon, nor found another witch.

**Chris**: No... **He looks down.**

**Natalya**: You have already spent half your time. I suggest that you spend the remaining half *more wisely*, and not waste it questioning the importance of pewter trinkets. **She reaches the top of the stairs and heads towards her room, but stops, turning to the balcony and looking down at Chris.** Baroness Lorelei will seek to part you from her daughter. I suggest that you keep her within reach, by any means you deem fit. **She turns and heads towards her room, vanishing.**

**Chris**: **He sighs and shoves the Sigils into his pocket.** As if I didn't have enough to deal with already...

***About forty minutes later, at Murdoc's...***

**Chris**: **He's pushing Liam in a wheelchair as they enter the detective's office. He calls out.** Detective Murdoc?

**Murdoc**: **He yells from down the hallway.** Down the hall, last door on the right! **The office has been cleaned up, most of the plastic is gone, though the broken lamp is still sitting on the corner of the front desk.**

**Liam**: **He's facing down towards the floor. He constantly has the urge to open his eyes and look around, momentarily forgetting that he's blind before the realization comes back to him.** ...At least it's warm in here.

**Chris**: **He pushes Liam down the hall and into Murdoc's office.** Detective?

**Murdoc**: **He waves at them. He's eating a sandwich from down the street.** Catching a late dinner, hope you don't mind if I finish eating real quick. **His office is stacked with piles of files and papers. It looks like he's been doing a lot of research recently.**

**Chris**: We ate before we left. **He pushes Liam up in front of the desk.**

**Murdoc**: **He looks at Liam strangely.** What happened to you, kid?

**Liam**: I was struck by lightning earlier today. **He says it almost emotionlessly.**

**Murdoc**: Jesus... **He shakes his head.** Sorry to hear that...

**Liam**: Name's Liam... Liam Riley...

**Murdoc**: **He wipes his mouth.** ...Was Otis Riley your father?

**Liam**: **He just nods.**

**Murdoc**: Damn, I've had my share of bad days, but I'm not sure I've have one worse than the one you must be having...

**Liam**: Let's just talk about what we came here to talk about.

**Chris**: **He pulls a black fanny pack off from around Liam's chair.** I wasn't sure how much you guys charged so... **He unzips the pack and starts putting stacks of money on Murdoc's desk.** That's ten-thousand dollars. If there's any expenses that come up... You know like that lamp I broke in front there... I'll gladly pay that too.

**Murdoc**: Jesus... **He looks down at the money, then after a moment he grabs it.** That's a lot of cash, but I'm not gonna say no to it. **He opens a door in his desk and puts the money away in a small safe in the bottom door. After a moment he closes it and spins the dial, then scoots back into place.** Odie said you were having some trouble choosing between your mother and some other guy's help to save your friend. I did some research on you and your family after Odie gave me that call earlier. Maybe it'll help you decide. **He looks up at Chris. He says the next part sternly.** Maybe it won't.

**Chris**: **He sits down in the chair next to Liam.** What do you mean by that?

**Murdoc**: You know a lot about your family's history?

**Chris**: They're some kind of tycoons, running and owning a mining business that sells metals and coal. **He shrugs.** My family isn't very talkative.

**Murdoc**: **He turns to one of his files and pulls out a few papers that look like they've been copied from old news papers and books. He sets them down on his desk.** Well, to put things simply, your mother might not be everything she seems. I've been making calls and been getting a lot of red flags on the name "Nadrageel", both in recent history, and *ancient* history... But let's stick to recent. **He grabs a cigar from a small wooden box on his desk and cuts the end off of it, lighting it with a match.** For the last year your mother has been quietly buying up land in Riverside. In seemingly, at least to the unknowing eye, random locations. Just today she purchased the Inland Valley Hospital.

**Chris**: **He looks down.** ...I think I know what you're getting at, Detective. She's buying location with those... Gates... Whatever they're called.

**Murdoc**: **He nods.** Any idea why?

**Chris**: She wants to control this area. **He looks up to Murdoc.** In a way similar to the Totenkopfs did some time back, or so I've been told.

**Murdoc**: From what I've seen, she doesn't seek to do this out of the goodness of her heart... No offense.

**Chris**: No, but *someone* needs to do it. From what I've heard from others, like the cop, Bishop or whatever her name is, this town has been through hell over the passed year or so.

**Murdoc**: **He nods.** I'll give you that, we've had some dark days, and these... Sigil monsters are getting more common. Someone making sure that this doesn't happen anymore would be a blessing.

**Chris**: Speaking of those monsters, I had to fight one in the basement of the hospital today.

**Liam**: You did? **He turns his head towards Chris.** You didn't tell me that.

**Chris**: A lot's going on. I thought I'd tell you once you felt better.

**Liam**: **He looks away from Chris.** Oh...

**Murdoc**: What happened with this monster? Did you kill it?

**Chris**: Yes... I mean, if it was even alive in the first place... Had to rip one of those Sigils right out of its stomach.

**Murdoc**: You have it?

**Chris**: I have two of 'em. I stole Leo's... He nearly killed us, if Odie didn't tell you. I have them in a safe place.

**Murdoc**: **He nods.** I'd heard that. Also heard your demon cut off his arm or something.

**Liam**: Yeah... Can we get back to that, *please*? How are you going to help us with Shane?

**Murdoc**: Right... Right... **He pulls his cigar from his mouth and scratches his forehead.** Who was this other kid, this "Nemo" you spoke to?

**Liam**: He was just some new kid at school... Then he starting wrangling us into these "deals"...

**Chris**: He said he'd free Shane from the demon's control, but I had to agree to turn against my mother to do it. Since I needed a lot less for him to do this, I agreed to the deal, but Odie said I should go with my mother.

**Murdoc**: **He takes a deep breath.** Well... If he's asking you to turn on your mother... He may be working for the Druaght...

**Liam**: The what?

**Murdoc**: The Druaght. I know, the name's annoying. He's been operating in this region for the last two years. As far as we can tell, he's responsible for these... "Abominations" and the sigils they use.

**Liam**: Nemo had one of those Sigils, I think... The demon... I mean Shane... Shane got one from him...

**Chris**: Before I fought that... Disgusting thing at the hospital, some old man called me. His voice was deep, kinda creepy... I think that must've been this "Druaght" guy. He said we wanted the same thing, and if I left the Sigil he'd let me go.

**Murdoc**: **He rubs his forehead.** We've been trying to track down this guy for almost two years now, and he just up and calls you? You must be important, or your mother's just that dangerous to his plans... Does she know about the Druaght?

**Chris**: I don't think she gives much thought to other people... She just... Does whatever she wants and probably crushes whoever gets in her way... At least... That's the impression I've been getting from her lately.

**Murdoc**: From what I've read about her, I don't find that surprising... Her business practices are brutal. She buys out the competition, and if that doesn't work, then she'll either scare them into selling, or run them out of business by buying out all of their suppliers or associates.

**Chris**: **He sighs.** That definitely seems like her...

**Murdoc**: And as the wealthiest woman in the world, she can afford to get away with almost *anything*. The problem is tracking the money your family has. Supposedly you and your mother have a known net worth of nearly 43.4 *billion* dollars, but no one is entirely sure. What I do know is, everyone has a price, and it seems your mother can always pay it.

**Liam**: Jesus christ! **Even without eyes, his expression is astonished.** That's an *insane* amount of money Chris...

**Chris**: **He seems confused.** I knew we had a lot of money, I guess no one just... Told me how much...

**Murdoc**: You mother does a good job of hiding her wealth. Forbes, for instance, had this article on her some time back, describing how difficult it is to chart the Nadrageel family history. **He pulls out a '96 Forbes magazine and opens it to a book marked page. There's several pictures of Natalya, a few of them look really old, like sepia-toned and from the 1800s, old.** Apparently there has *always* been a female matriarch of the Nadrageels, and she always looks *very* similar from generation to generation. According to this, your grandmother was Natasha Nadrageel. **He pulls out a photo, looks like something from the mid-70s.** That's Natasha at thirty-something, with her son, Orion. **In the photograph is a woman that clearly looks like Natalya, with a slightly different haircut. There's a young boy with dark brown hair next to her.**

**Chris**: Orion's my uncle... I've never asked him about my grandmother... **He pauses.** I'm not sure he likes talking about her...

**Liam**: If she even exists.

**Chris**: ...What? **He looks over at Liam.**

**Liam**: I can't see the pictures, but from what the Detective here is saying, it *sounds* like there is no "grandmother". Your mom's probably been around a while...

**Chris**: ...That seems... over the top. Like something from a vampire movie.

**Liam**: You're not exactly human, Chris... I mean... No offense...

**Chris**: **He sighs.** Alright, so my mother's an ageless business tyrant with questionable practices... **He shakes his head.**

**Murdoc**: I'm just trying to paint you a picture of what you mother *could* be, Mr. Courier. From what Odie said, you're simply not sure who to trust. Your mother, or this mystery man with the blue hair. Frankly, I'm not sure either. From what I can tell Natalya might be trying to start an empire here, like the Prince and other various power-mongers before her.

**Chris**: The reason why I even considered Nemo's offer was because my mother has been acting so incredibly... Cold. I mean, she's always cold, but... She doesn't care that Shane's killed people. She doesn't care if he *keeps* killing people... And frankly... I'm not sure what she'll do to me if I fail her... Trial... My uncle gave a very foreboding warning about getting on her bad side.

**Murdoc**: Trial? What trial?

**Chris**: My mother hasn't been too pleased with me lately... So I... I don't think "trick" is the right word, but "convinced" doesn't seem right either... Either way I got her to give me this trial. I get all the things needed, and she'll perform some ritual, I'm assuming, to exorcise Shane. The problem is that Nemo is saying this ritual is like "cutting out a brain tumor with a bundle of C-4"... I can't say that I don't believe him. **He looks at Murdoc with concern.**

**Liam**: So you considered siding with Nemo... Even if meant that your mother might... Disown you or... Worse?

**Chris**: **He looks to Liam.** Shane's killing people, he has to be stopped and he has to be saved. I'm not going to let this demon... I'm not going to let it win. **He balls up his fists in .** Thanks for your research, detective, but I still don't know what to do, or who to pick. In the end I'm likely going to go with Nemo, as I still don't know another witch, or the demon's name...

**Murdoc**: **He puffs his cigar a few times.** I may be able to help you with that witch problem. I'll need to make some calls, but I'm sure I'll be able to find one that could help. I've known a few in my time.

**Chris**: We have less than three days, before the demon... Kills Shane... **He sighs.** And before my mother does something to me...

**Murdoc**: Well... For ten-thousand I think I can work quickly, heh. I'll try to have something for you tomorrow, I'll give you a call.

**Chris**: You need my number?

**Murdoc**: Nah, my caller ID picked it up. **He takes a deep breath.**

**Chris**: **He stands up, grabbing the back of Liam's wheelchair.** You want to ask the detective anything?

**Liam**: You don't know who Nemo is, Detective?

**Murdoc**: The guy's name literally means "No body", it's obviously not his real name...

**Liam**: **He shakes his head.** I don't like him... But he has a lot of answers...

**Murdoc**: You know. To be horribly frank, maybe play a little devil's advocate, these guys who show up, offer deals... **He shakes his head.** The last controller of the Riverside region was a man named Edward Totenkopf, a lot of people just call him "The Prince". Anyway, he offered these kinds of "deals". He does something for you, you do something for him. I'm not going to sing the man any praise, but... He was trustworthy... In his own way. **He puts his cigar out.** These deal-makers *always* hold up their end of the bargain, the only problem is that they have a way of *forcing* you to keep your end.

**Liam**: He never said what he wanted from me... Is there any way we can get out of a deal once it's made?

**Murdoc**: **He sighs.** There's a few, but... I'm not an expert on those mind games. I have an associate, a museum curator over in Temecula, she's better at this sort of thing.

**Chris**: That's right, I wanted to get her number. I was wondering if I could get her to see to that *thing* in the hospital basement... It seemed a lot more... Well-made than that one that attacked us here.

**Murdoc**: **He grabs a slip of paper and starts writing it down. After a moment he holds it out to Chris.**

**Chris**: **He grabs it.** Thanks.

**Murdoc**: I'll call and tell her about the monster at the hospital, if either of you need a way out of any deals you've made with Nemo, you could set up a meeting with her.

**Chris**: Thank you for everything, Mr. Murdoc. It's nice having someone that can reliably explain this... Insanity.

**Murdoc**: Heh... Kid, I can only explain a small part of it. Get used to never knowing just what the hell is going on, cause it's gonna be happening for a while. **He grabs another cigar.** Anything else you need before you go?

**Chris**: Keep digging up dirt on my mother if you can. If she's actually immortal... Or doing things that are dangerous to other people... I want to know... But this possession takes priority for now.

**Murdoc**: **He nods.** I'll keep on keep'n on, kid.

**Liam**: Thanks Detective.

***Later that night...***

**The rain has turned to a slight drizzle, but the cloudy night makes it very dark ou, and the night air is almost blisteringly cold.**

**Chris**: **He's pushing Liam up the path towards his room.** How are you feeling?

**Nemo**: **A voice from the darkness answers in Liam's place.** Irritated. **He walks out of the shadows, standing in the middle of the path.**

**Liam**: Who's that?

**Chris**: Nemo... What are you doing here?

**Nemo**: I figured, right about now the both of you would be all buddy-buddy again, after what that boy did to Liam. **He cracks his neck and then rubs the side of his jaw.** Find your *other* witch yet, Chris?

**Chris**: **He narrows his eyes.** ...Not yet.

**The front doors to the house open suddenly. Natalya is standing beyond them, just inside. The light catches in her eyes, causing them to almost glow like a dog or a cat's.**

**Nemo**: I'm not going to play this game, Chris. **He moves his shoulder, and is cracks loudly, he takes a step forward and as his footfall hits the pavement it seems to thud particularly loud.** Your bumbling indecision. Your inability to *commit* to what you've chosen!

**Liam**: What was that? **He sounds very concerned, thinking something heavy just fell.**

**Natalya**: **Her soft voice hisses out into the air.** On those marks, I'm afraid I agree with the this boy. You sought a trial, yet here I see that you've gone behind my back, making deals in my shadow.

**Chris**: **He takes a few steps back, pulling Liam's wheelchair with him. He looks back at his mother.**

**Liam**: What's happening Chris? What's going on?

**Chris**: I think we've just been backed into a corner Liam...

**Natalya**: **She stands in the doorway, staring down at Chris with blaming dissapointment, her strange eyes still catching some unseen source of light.**

**Nemo**: We're running out of time! The demon is on the move, and it's not going to waste the days like you've been! **He takes another few steps towards them, a loud heavy thud accompanying each of his footfalls.** You're either with *me*, or with that *monster*, so choose! What's it going to be Serpentine?!