They were running through barely lighten streets, along with the few soldiers who could keep up with them. Neither Markus nor Gina have ever felt disturbance like this, except that one accursed day. The ripples were not as strong as then, but it didn’t calm them in any way.

“He knows it is basically like lighting up a beacon,” Gina tried to elaborate. “This could be a distraction.”

“And what else are we supposed to do?! It comes from the direction of the place where we were supposed to meet up with Gray, and I can’t believe it could be a coincidence.”

“Agree. I think I can see the building, or what is left of it.”

It took him a while to notice what she has seen. What he mistook for a light in a window was actually a fire burning in the ruin of a building. Around twenty soldiers and city guards were already present, but they were taking their distance. Soon he found out why.

A semi-humanoid abomination made of melted together corpses crushed through a wall and grabbed the closest of the man. Before Markus could even react it ripped the hand out of the man’s arm, like it was made out of bread.

“No!” Not expecting any response, Justicius filled his voice with a significant part of his Focus and shouted again. “Let. This Man. GO!”

The thing didn’t show that it has even noticed him in any way, keeping all its focus on the guard.

“You used this hand to take bribes,” sounded many distorted voices. “And so it no longer belongs to you.”

Before the monster could do anything else, Markus pushed all of his ether into a bust of wind that grabbed the man, and carried him out of the creature’s reach. It didn’t move towards him, but it did grow a few extra eyes on the side of its body that was facing Markus.

“Gina, I will be busy for a while. Take care of Smithson, he couldn’t run far away.”

“I can’t, sorry. I can see Gray from here, and doesn’t look good. I would leave that old freak to die, without hesitation, if I knew I would find our Shaper, but now I have other priorities.”

“Do what you have to,” Markus said grinding his teeth. “I will take care of this Fae.”

Something resembling a face has turned in his direction, like the monster has decided he was worth some more attention.

“You have many illegitimate children, Royal Justicius.” The voices sounded again. “You didn’t care about your wife, neither when she was healthy, nor when she was bedridden and dying. The first time you gave any attention to the people you brought to this world, was when one of them was murdered. And now instead of going after the criminal, you prefer to fight against the very spirit of justice.”

Markus didn’t respond. Being a bad husband and father wasn’t a crime, and powers of that spirit were bound to the law. Instead, he just unsheathed his saber and filled it to the brim with mana. The low humming of the powered enchantments and weight of the sword in his hand let him calm down a tiny bit. He looked back at the thing’s ‘face’, and it was strangely reassuring not to see any humanity in it.

“Summoning demons or any other spirits has been outlawed over a century ago. You are breaking the planar accords, just by being here. On my authority as a Royal Justicius, I order you to leave.”

“Order, you say?” The voices asked in sync, like all the summoned souls were equally offended by this very idea. “Judge the one who is judgement? Execute the executioner? You think you can do that?”

“I already did. Many times.” Markus pointed the blade towards the abomination. “Some of your souls should tell you who sent them to you.”

***

The alley was dark enough to be a problem even for her eyes. Gina sniffed the air again, but it was still mostly the scent of Grays blood. She slowly placed the old man down on the ground, and snapped her fingers as soon as her hands were free. This time there actually was a response, as ether resonated around a hidden presence in the dark.

“Can we have a talk?” She asked calmly.

No answer has come, so she changed her strategy a bit.

“Do you want me to stab him, as a sign of my good will?”

This time she could clearly see a shadow moving behind a rainwater barrel. A man-like outline was walking towards her, stumbling every few steps like a cripple. Smithson must have been wounded worse than she thought. She would probably have to change all of her plans, if he can’t run away.

“You wanted to talk.” Said a metallic voice, vaguely resembling Smithson. “Let’s talk.”

He was close enough to make out the details. His etheric armor was covering his whole body. It was also stained black, so she had no way to tell what was his condition. That was a nice trick, but she would have to pretend not to see his injuries for now.

“Do you remember me?”

“You were present during my some of my interrogations.”

“And before that?”

“I guess, I’ve seen you at the university a few times.”

“I was lucky enough to be chosen to analyze your notes.”

Earlier she was planning to remind him about people who weren’t that lucky, but he didn’t seem to be sorry about anything. Something told her, that playing the victim wasn’t going to work.

“I’m not going to hurt you. I’m not even trying to catch you. All I want is to ask some questions.” She slowly pulled out a small wooden box, out of her pocket. “It’s just some medicine. I don’t know how wounded you are, but it is good for blood loose. If you don’t trust me, I can take some right now.”

“That won’t be necessary.” She heard his voice from behind her without anything metallic in it, and then she felt something cold on her neck. “I know from my prison experience, that knifes work way better in resolving trust issues.”