Sentry of the Arcane: Befall

Chapter Four: Fitz

Chapter Four: Fitz

I glance over at Sophie as we look through Arien's file. She laughs at my shocked expression when I learn that this victim's mother is still alive and healthy. Looking at the female Percipient, I ask, "Should we ask Mr. Wallace if we can visit her? We might be able to get some more facts about Arien."

Sophie looks at me. "I was thinking the same thing, but I don't if we'll be able to learn something. The mother-" She pauses and looks at the mother's name. "Who is Leila Leroy, most likely will be in too much grief."

I nod. "That's true. But what if we brought Laurel and Benen? They're the most compassionate out of the six of us."

Sophie nods in agreement. "Wait- when will we tell them?" Sophie asks suddenly.

My eyes widen when I realize that I didn't think of that. "Oh yeah," I say, leaning back. "Let's tell them today."

"And the Sovereigns?"

I groan. "I seriously don't think that they'd be the best to bring along," I begin. I then sigh reluctantly. "But we should probably tell them at the same time as Laurel and Benen. If they come, we'll try not to let them near the mother." I then grab the folder, closing it gently. I'm about to put it away when something catches my eye.

I frown. "Who's this?" I ask, opening the folder again.

Sophie furrows her eyebrows as she looks over my shoulder. "Fitton Galster..?" She narrows her eyes as she reads the label for him. "Boyfriend?!"

"What?!" I look to see if she's joking or not. She's not. My eyes blink in surprise as I say, "I'm guessing that this boyfriend's a suspect now?"

She nods. "Or maybe he tried to save her."

"Or he killed her."

...

The Sovereigns and Altruistics are already seated in the conference room when we arrive. Donovan raises an eyebrow at me and I glare at him. Shaking my head, I dust nonexistent dust off of my shirt before sitting down next to Sophie. The female Percipient and I exchange glances before staring at Mr. Wallace. He briefly nods, and I take the silence to address the issue at hand.

"Arien Leroy,"I say, surprising Sophie with my directness. "A forty-nine year old woman who was born in Oregon. She was killed in her home-" I pause, looking over the file again. "In her home in Seattle. Her father is dead due to old age, but her mother is still alive and well at the age of seventy-nine. She lives in Oregon now."

Benen and Laurel clap excitedly at the last part, earning smiles from Sophie and me and eye rolls from the Sovereigns.

"Other than her mother, it's said that she had a boyfriend by the name of Fitton Galster," Sophie adds in. "Who we think is a suspect."

"We?" Audrey asks.

She sighs in exasperation. "Fitz and I. Happy?"

"Very."

Rolling my eyes, I get back on topic. "But this is only a major assumption based on last time," I say, forcing myself to not clench my fists in anger at the memory of Laurel and Sophie tied up in those chairs. Benen and I exchange wary glances before turning back to the others.

Sophie looks at Mr. Wallace. "Could we see what her death photos are?" Sophie asks, ignoring Audrey when she chuckles, "Smooth." When the middle aged man nods, I open the folder to the first page.

Then I look up and wonder why someone would kill her. And why they did it so mercilessly.

Arien's body lies face up, then trickling blood now dried along her bloody skin. Little pieces of glass are noticeable on her forehead and around her head as if someone threw a small glass object at her head. I see a stool in the corner of the picture and come to the conclusion that something was thrown at her, hit her, and made her fall from her stool and onto her back.