Exton

The next day and evening passed uneventfully. The crowds at the tavern were subdued and more quiet than usual. People came and went in pairs and groups, no one traveling the streets alone unless absolutely necessary. At the cottage the children were kept unaware of their parents thoughts. Since the weather was turning warmer they spent their afternoons outside with Laila and Alise. Tara was attentive to Gracie, trying to include her in her games and bringing rocks and early spring flowers to show the little one. Tomas found a small toad and Gracie squealed with laughter when it leaped from his open hand and startled Laila. The Batman doll went everywhere Tomas did now, and was never far from the little boy.

The patrols continued watching the city but all had been quiet. No sign of any other murders or crimes and no sign of Rath. Nick had been keeping an eye out for the vampire, thinking of a little payback.

Rowan and Mortuis had spoken to the murdered girls families. Never an easy task but Rowan seemed especially saddened by this duty. Even though this was a task she had performed many times the ages of the deceased made it even more difficult. How does one tell parents that their children have passed before them? It was an unnatural order of things and something that Rowan would pray and meditate on nightly for a long time.

Tannr had made his appointment for the branding and confirmed that Tori could be there. He didnt like the idea of a cross permanently on his body and he thought of incorporating it somehow into a new tattoo. He was sure Star could help him design something. Tori had been as shocked as anyone to learn that one of the murdered girls was the one she had been so angry with for flirting with Tannr. She hadnt said a lot about it, but Tannr knew it was on her mind. He just made himself available to her, letting her know he was there for her no matter what. The one thing she had said to him was “Trouble is I have done worse, so much worse...” Tannr had pulled her close and whispered, “I know. I have too. But I know you didnt do this..” And the pair seemed closer than ever.

Pike and Wish had been staying close by the cabin in the woods, always watching and alert for any danger to Star. They knew not only goblins were watching but caught sight occasionally of a Drow. Keon had stayed at the cabin except when on patrol and Star was as happy as she had ever been with her growing family. She had Ru and Mera outside as much as possible. She wasnt worried knowing Wish and Pike were always close by, as well as the animals. Erik and Keon searched high and low for her one afternoon and found her napping under the willow tree, curled up with the babies, surrounded by Tiger, Wolf, Lobo and Rainas panther. It had taken Keon some time to convince Erik that she wasnt in any danger with a group like that protecting her.

And across town, a few days after Monty had found the remains, a detective sat at his desk looking at the photos of two young college girls. He wasn't sure if this was a true missing persons case, many times it wasn't. Young people usually turned up with some outrageous excuse, too much partying, a fight with a boyfriend, a trip with a boyfriend, so many reasons. But this one made him uneasy, especially since other students had disappeared. There was an uneasiness about town lately. One that even some of the humans could feel, even the ones totally unaware of all the 'others' they lived side by side with. The detective sighed and pushed his chair away from the desk.

Maybe I should at least talk to the folks reporting this and ask a few questions around town, just in case.....