cradle of life (the forsaken #2) [WangXian FF]

4

The coroner was a man in his late forties, with short and sturdy body, thick beard and a pair of hands that could crack open the ribcage without any tools. And Wei Wuxian observed him with such a blatant interest, wondering if he was a dwarf with his physique and all. But just when he was about to ask, the coroner bowed his head to him and spoke in his deep voice.

"My liege, it is an honor." He then also bowed to Lan Wangji–who nodded at him politely. "I am Borin Morte, at your service."

Yeah, a dwarf then. Funny that he became a coroner, while most dwarves worked as craftsmen, or blacksmiths. Cliche, but it was what they were good at. But maybe this one had also excelled in his field just like any of the others. 

"I heard that you are interested in the corpses of the mysterious drowning victims, my liege?" The coroner continued to talk.

Wei Wuxian gave him a smile and nodded. He would not judge before he saw the results.

"Yes, can you please show us the bodies?" 

"This way, my liege." Borin led the way and opened the steel door to the cold and sterile room where the autopsy was being performed. 

On the tables, there were three bodies that were already in a various state of decomposition, and judging from the way they had been laid, it was set down according to the time of death.

Wei Wuxian moved closer and examined the bodies thoroughly, when he found the injection mark on their palms. He showed it to Lan Wangji, then he turned to look at the coroner who stood beside one of the tables.

"Paralyzing needle?"

"Cleverly hidden within a ring, if I may suggest." Borin took the hand and clasped it with his own. "The location where the needle pierced–just right in the middle of the palm–suggests that the ring is worn on their middle finger." He showed the position of their hands. "All three of them have the same exact mark on the same location that suggested that they were shaking hands with the unsub when the paralyzing needle pierced their skin, rendering them unable to move."

"Hmm…" Wei Wuxian rubbed his chin–an unconscious gesture when he was thinking hard. "So, I think they met a new acquaintance, and then shook hands, and bam! They're paralyzed and their new friend threw them into the water." Then he turned to look at Lan Wangji. "What do you think? Human or…"

"Human." Lan Wangji answered. He had a more extensive knowledge about mythical beasts and their power than Wei Wuxian, since he had lived for thousands of years while Wei Wuxian had only just known his true identity a short while ago. "Or a beast with no poison ability. There's a few mythical beasts with poison, but I can assure you that the wound would not be located in the palm of their hands if they did it, so I lean more toward humans."

Wei Wuxian nodded.

"That's what I thought too. This was all too… human." He then turned to look at Borin. "Can you tell us where they were found?"

"Sure." Borin took a local map and then put it down on the table. He circled three places with a thick marker. "This is where the first victim was found. This is the second and that's the third."

Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian observed the map, and they found out that the ponds were a walking distance from an exclusive gated neighborhood, a popular university, and a hospital. They wrote the details and then walked out of the morgue with a promise from Borin that he would let them know if there was any progress with the cases.

"Are you hungry?" Lan Wangji looked at Wei Wuxian who was in deep thought.

"I could use some food." He smiled and then reached for Lan Wangji's arm. "Or not." He grinned mischievously.

"Food first." Lan Wangji gripped Wei Wuxian's waist, and the latter could see that the tip of his ears were red. Wei Wuxian chuckled and he kissed Lan Wangji's cheek. He knew that his husband really cared for his well being, and food was one of the ways to show it.

They chose the nearest diner–which boasted the best roast beef sandwich on the coast–and Wei Wuxian ordered it. The best roast beef sandwich, extra pickles, french fries, and a big glass of cold soda. Lan Wangji ordered a bowl of fresh fruit and yogurt, with a pot of hot tea, and earned a judging glance from the waitress–a mature lady with permed hair and blood red lipstick.

"She likes you." Wei Wuxian chuckled. It was rare for anyone to not like Lan Wangji, Mr. Hotshot actor. And yet, the woman glared at him as if he desecrated her ancestor's graves. Just because he didn't order meat.

"Ah, well, what's not to like about me." Lan Wangji shrugged nonchalantly. "And since you're that confident, you should ask her about the latest gossip here."

"I plan to do that. No jealous!" Wei Wuxian wiggled his finger in front of Lan Wangji, who grabbed it, and kissed each of them tenderly. The sweet gesture made Wei Wuxian blushed and he tried to pull away but Lan Wangji held on to them, caressing slowly with his thumb.

"No jealous… husband." Lan Wangji smirked and Wei Wuxian's heart almost exploded from the look Lan Wangji sent him. Goddamn him to be so charming, and handsome, and so good in bed, and… and… god he was such a perfection.

Wei Wuxian was considering abandoning food and went back to their lair to have some more fun–after all, this was their honeymoon, they should not go out of bed for more than bathroom break or food break–when the waitress was back and put their food in front of them.

"Anything else I can get ya?" She looked at Wei Wuxian–who gave her a smile, with a low dose of pheromone to entice her to speak up–and smiled flirtily.

"Well, actually we're not from around here…" Wei Wuxian started the conversation, leaving a gap at the end of his words, and the woman caught the bait.

"Yeah, I can see that from your fancy clothes." She grinned. "What are you? Another reporter? There seemed to be quite a few of them lately ever since the murders." She whispered the last word.

"Murders?" Wei Wuxian pretended to gasp. "What do you mean murders? And no, we are not reporters, we're just looking for a good place to settle down." He offered her his best smile and a wink. That would surely be enough to coax some kind of information from her–at least it was, back when he was a human.

"Hmpf, all the best ones are always taken." She glanced at Lan Wangji who calmly sipped his tea. "But anyway, you said you wanna move here? You should check that fancy gated community near the pond where they found the first victim. She was working as a nanny for one of the rich families there when they found her dead. I heard it was a suicide. Since the father is a good looking one, maybe he tried to seduce her or something and she couldn't take it, I don't know, at least that's what people said." She shrugged and then turned back to the kitchen. "Anyway, good luck in finding a place here."