Losing The Light

Chapter 7

The next day, Lukys and Rane were halfway through setting up their command room when another body was found and they were sent out to take a look. Just like the first two victims, this man had no obvious cause of death, and the hellstar markings were stamped on his hands and feet.

Unlike the first two victims, this one had tiny red crystals crusting the edges of his mouth and his teeth. Using his flashlight like a human would, Rane could see that the miniscule grains went back into the victim's dry throat.

"He drank demon blood?" Rane squatted and took another picture. "Has that happened before?"

"No," Lukys was grim. He scanned the area, so Rane followed his example.

They were in the overgrown, tiny back parking lot of a foreclosed arcade. It was squeezed next to a pizza shop that looked like it probably hadn't passed a health inspection in a decade, and sat on a street corner that was often used for picking up hookers.

Lukys continued. "But sometimes they do things like this. Our witch on retainer thinks it has nothing to do with killing the person, and everything to do with whatever spell they're trying to perform. They've gone through phases of trying new places to put the hellstar, or adding other sigils - the ones you showed to Azmael last night - or doing things like this. We still have no idea what they're even trying to do."

"Hm." Rane stood and looked around. The forensic techs were spread out near the perimeter of the crime tape, giving the two of them a chance to look over the body without so many people crowding around.

It wasn't the best area, to say the least. But it wasn't as if it was hidden or abandoned.

It seems like a risky place to drop off a body. There were a few businesses that were still open and operational around this block, so there could be footage of the criminal coming in and out. The parking lot was shared with the pizza shop, and they were open late. Does the cult not care? Are they reckless? Or is it confidence? How are they so sure they won't be caught?

Rane blinked and tried to look around with his demon vision. Colors swirled around the crime scene analysts, near the exit of the pizza shop, and near the street corner. But here, by the body, Rane saw a very specific color. He took a quick step back, alarmed.

"A demon dropped him off," he said quietly, gritting his teeth through the pain as his demon sight faded. "I see the color signature. It looks like mine."

Lukys was there in an instant. He froze, eyes closed and head tilted, as if listening for something. A small crease appeared between his blonde eyebrows and his mouth turned down. He finally opened his eyes and shook his head, frustrated. "I can't hear anything, which means there weren't any humans or Devils with him."

What a strange angel ability.

"But there was definitely a demon here," Rane sighed. "Which means a Devil isn't far. The demon would be working under their orders."

"Mm," Lukys agreed with a hum and looked around again. "It makes sense. This is the most public dumping ground so far, but demons have a knack for not being seen."

Oh? Rane perked up with interest, but Lukys didn't notice and didn't elaborate, and Rane didn't want to ask. If it was one more thing he couldn't do due to his bindings, then maybe he shouldn't know, anyway. He couldn't afford to regret getting them done.

"A Devil in the area..." Lukys nodded decisively. "Maybe we should pay another visit to Azmael."

"You think it's him? But he doesn't have a demon. And he's been in Atlanta all this time."