Disorder [Privat]

He couldn’t help but to nod again as she spoke. It would not make too much sense that some supernatural creature from the outside would come in to the city at night for vengeance and kill with the most human weapons possible. There would be easier ways to get the deed done. It could have been done if someone wanted to hide their tracks and heritage, but would the hassle be worth it? Kael doubted it. The entrance to both the citadel and the city were observed by guards to keep shady individuals and cursed ones away. That does not automatically mean that the guards are doing a good job, as they sometimes were more eager to chat with each other or whistle at young maidens than they were at guarding, but magical creatures rarely sought out the people infested cities anyway – he guessed the risk was higher was usually than the reward.

“You’re probably right,” he concluded, slowly leaning back until he met the backrest of the sofa. Maybe he was overthinking it all. Both people and creatures ended up dead all the time, was there a difference now? Not really perhaps, but it still troubled him that it had happened here in the city.

Kael let out a little careful smile as her questions directed to him was asked. Maybe he was being a bit too controlling of his need for information. This control freak way of thinking could also be one of the factors that had kept him alive for so long.

“I used to think of this place as a safe haven,” he chuckled, shaking his head as he let his gaze wander around the room. Maybe that was what was making him more suspicious about the assassinations than he should be. Traveling around on the perimeters and beyond, one had to be vigilant every moment of the hour. There was no one watching your back during the night or day, no rules applied, and sleep was an utter last resort that was done with the risk of never waking up again due to being killed without a chance to fight back. It was draining, which meant that every time he passed any city or town limits, a weight falls off his shoulders. He had felt quite safe especially this city, seeing as it is one of the bigger ones in this part of the land. If only the humans did as well.
“I must have been away during the other killings, and hearing this one triggered me, I guess,” he replied, pressing his lips together in a slight smirk. She probably knew what it was to be extra wary, being of another blood kind than the masses just like him, so he felt it was better to save her from further explanations.

He looked back at her and the lynx as he bowed his head as a small gesture of appreciation.
“Thank you for bearing with me and my questions,” he said. It was quite nice discussing with this shaman even though she was of a completely different blood kind, or maybe it was it the fact that he had not had such discussions in a very long time and appreciated the change for a while. It was something he could almost get used to doing instead of his constant seeking of solitude. Almost.

Vest only nodded at first, she knew that she was wrong, or only partly right, but it was because she knew the truth. But seeing she couldn't say anything about it, she just kept quiet, observing the man. He gave her a small smile, and she did the same, mostly to be polite. She still had a difficult time to figure him out. Rain glanced at her but didn't say anything, yet she knew that the lynx would have a lot to ad after the man left.

"In some ways it is, if you compare it to other cities. The supernaturals that lives here often want to stay low and are friendly, or at least less eager to attack you. The humans are also friendly. They often argue with each other, but a brawl is nothing compared to what's out there. Most humans don't seek a fight, making this place safer than most. But no place can be hundred per sent safe" she started, knowing that this would be true, even without her out there. "There is always someone who don't wish to live in harmony, and even if some of our kind aren't the most friendly, I would say that the humans are even less friendly, especially to their own kind. But maybe you just notice it more, because their numbers are large than ours"
Vest wasn't sure about how the numbers would have looked if her kind was larger. Shaman's were often friendlier than other kinds, wishing to leave in peace, yet if they had the numbers the humans had, she knew she wouldn't have been the only hostile one.

"The killings are gruesome, and it triggers us all, even if we have been here for the others" she tilted her head, that was at least how it was for the others. "And it's a good thing to be cautious, you live longer that way, but don't go around in worry, because that never ends well"
Vest bowed back when he did, informing him that it was alright.
"It was no trouble at all, and if the conversation had been about something else, it may even have been a pleasure, seeing I rarely speak with other supernaturals"

Kael listened to her carefully, running a hand through his hair at the same time. She was right about humans being less friendly or even a threat to their own kind, but he would have argued that that rule only applies within the city limits. Outside the safe city limits and the guarding eye of the masses, the power structure changed drastically. The humans who are trying to survive in the perimeters either because of crops, livestock or families have rarely the abilities of protecting themselves when something decided to attack. He had seen it so many times before – ranches and its inhabitants totally mauled by something more powerful. It could be werewolves, a flock of vampires, a lone warlock, a revenge seeking group of witches… It did not really matter what, but the point was that in the majority parts of this land, humans were the underdogs. Only in masses did they stand a chance, which is why people flocked to the cities or bigger towns in hope to live protected and make a life with meaning. However, disease spread much easier in crowds, giving city life an ironic safe haven, a choice between death by combat or the plague. One quick, one slow, both quite painful he would believe. Either way it was rarely a fair game outside the city limits, which is exactly why he was trying to assist to his best abilities. Slaughtering defenseless humans out in the perimeters was just a complete show of cowardice.

He sensed from her words that their stance could differ at this point and decided not to go into it any further. It could mean an instant stop to this conversation, and he felt there was more to know about her. Maybe it was because she was of magical blood, maybe something else. Her presence was captivating of sorts, he couldn’t really place his finger on it.

“Are there many supernaturals living here?” he asked, genuinely curious about that fact. He understood that there could be magical creatures anywhere, even here, but Vest had been the first magical aura he had felt during his trips to the city. They must be living low as she had mentioned – walking around openly showing either magical appearance or abilities would almost be an instant death wish within these city walls.

Vest kept her eyes on the man as his hand moved through his hair, showing his ears once more. They made him think that he had elfblood in his vens, which was surprising seeing that a human found an elf. They avoided them all, making most people believe that they had gone extinct. She knew that wasn't the case seeing that they lived longer than any of them, and she doubted that the humans had killed them all. No they were just good at hiding no matter if it was in the forest, mountains, water or wherever they went.

She let her head rest against her palm, wondering if the man had any of the abilities of an elf, also which of the abilities that was true. There were always rumors surrounding every type, most of them was easy to dismiss seeing she met the creatures, but since the elves were long gone she didn't knew which was true. Maybe the man didn't knew either. Since he seemed to live like a human she doubted that he knew much about his magical parent, or maybe both of his parents chose to raise him as a human, thinking it was safer. Vest wondered if her parents would have done the same if they were around? She didn't knew if they were alive or not, but it made very little difference to her. She had never known them, and she didn't wish to at this age either.

Vest tilted her head in the other direction before she answered.
"Depends what you think of as many, and the number changes. Some are just passing through due to different reasons. Few chose to live like I do, but there are some others. Some chose to hid without pretending to be something else, often lurking in the shadows. I rarely meet other creatures, and it's even rarer that I speak to them. I mostly notice them when we pass each other on the streets. We often look at each other, but nothing more than that" she said which was true, mostly. She had a few contacts that she met from time to time, all being supernaturals and her only close friends, but they only met sporadically. "But I would say that there is more than you think, but less than it could be"

Kael crossed one leg over the other as he listened to her voice. It was interesting to hear the shaman’s experiences of other supernaturals in the city. It had, of course, crossed his mind that he couldn’t be the only one to occasionally wander into the cities, but to have never met another supernatural before this shaman really surprised him, if they really did exist like Vest claimed. He did not see any reason for her to lie about such a simple fact like that.

He let his gaze wander to the armrest of the sofa and a small dot of hardened candle wax. Maybe his intuition was not as good as he had thought? He usually praised himself of his abilities to sense traces of magic around and his capacity of tracking auras of non-human kind. Was he getting sloppy? He carefully picked at the hardened lump of wax with his right index finger. Overestimating oneself can be a dangerous game to play, he would not make that mistake again. From now on, he would be extra cautious to his senses and try to pick up on any abnormalities that he might have sidestepped earlier.

“You’re the first non-human to cross my path like this,” he said, switching his gaze from the lump of wax to the shaman, but continuing to pick at it with his finger.
“They are good at hiding, or then I’m just not paying enough attention,” he continued, followed by a silent chuckle. He would most definitely up his game after this. No question about it.

Before Kael could continue he switched his attention towards the door after hearing quick footsteps approach. It did not take long before a couple of knocks broke the silence, followed by the door carefully opening and Trevor sticking his head through the crack, probably looking for his star actress. Either he was worried, bored, or the arguments had died down already.

Vest were unsure of what to think about the fact that she was the first one he spoke to like this. It were possible that he avoided most of them, especially if he were traveling around. She rarely, if ever met anyone from outside the city, but the few times she had, the stories were far from pleasant, and being the case she could understand if Kael avoided them. Yet from studying him she had a hard time thinking he couldn't handle himself, so maybe he just didn't have to chance, or he wasn't the social type. Which made her wonder why he spoke to her, moreover since they weren't friends. Possible because she was the only supernatural he knew, and she could provide him with some answers, but what did she knew. It reminded her of how little she knew about the man. She was still careful around him, yet he was sitting in her room, but if she was honest it wasn't all to unpleasant. she found joy in talking to other supernaturals when she could, and even if he was only a halfblood, it was better than the humans.
"We aren't always the most social creatures, unless you come looking for us" she smiled, knowing that it was true. Each race was a bit more social with each other, however, rarely with someone else. "But I hope I am not to big of a disappointment, not living a typical shaman life with potions and all"
She joked, making it sound like she rarely did anything shaman like, living mostly like a human. Which was half true, just not on the nights.
"They are good at hiding, and it's a big city. They aren't impossible to find, or not all of them, but you need to search for them to find them. I am one of the few who lives this openly."

Vest turned towards Trevor with a small smile as he entered.
"Are you alright?" he asked her with a worried voice, but it didn't seemed to be because of Kael, rather the situation with Lord Lake.
"I am a bit taken, but talking about plays with Kael helped" Trevor turned towards the man and gave him a weak smile.
"I am far from surprised hearing that work is what helps you in this sorrowful times
"It really does, without it I wouldn't be able to concentrate. I still can't understand that he is dead"
"He was a fan of your work" Trevor tried to cheer her up and she nodded.
"And the horrible way he died and pour Lady Lake" Trevor took her hand.
"We decided to postpone the rehearsal today and go visiting her, would you like to accompany us?"
"You think I could be of any help?" Vest asked, glancing at the pretend friend.
"I am sure it will, if nothing else I am sure that she would be pleased to talk to you about your upcoming role or dresses" Trevor ensured her and Vest smiled.
"I will do my best, Lady Lake doesn't deserved this" she stood up and turned towards Kael. "I'm afraid that we need to cut our talk a bit short, I hope we can continue it another day"
Trevor handed over her cape and helped her to put it on.
"Stay safe Kael, it would upset me to hear that you got hurt"
"Always so considerate" Trevor offered her his arm and she took it while they left the room. Vest wasn't to worried to leave Kael there, seeing Rain was there keeping an eye on him, and if the man would prefer to stay awhile and not head out on the streets again, well he was a supernatural after all so she could do that for him.

Kael did not bother standing up as Trevor came in. He seemed to be of no danger whatsoever and did not seem to show any spite towards him. He gave the theatre worker a slight nod with his head as a greeting, but no more.
He did however follow their discussion with hidden humour. It was interesting following the shaman woman’s game she was playing, almost twirling the humans around her fingers or pulling their strings like little puppets. It even crossed his mind if it indeed was one of the powers of a shaman – the possibility to lure in people, or this sort of fake comfort and ease that she could be spreading to easier hide? Was that also the reason he had made his way to her again? Then again, he had never heard of shamans’ or anyone else possessing this sort of natural power, and he shrugged the thought away. She was just a very good actress.

As they made their preparations to leave Kael stood up from his position on the couch and gave them both a quick bow.
“Take care, my lady,” he saluted as they left the room, a greeting fitted for the situation with Trevor nearby, but perhaps not what he would have said with only her present.

The door slowly shut after them and he straightened his stance, carefully crossing his arms in front of him as he scrutinized the room. It was a very cosy room indeed, and he took a few steps to the side to examine some of the paintings on the wall. They were beautiful, a very fitting choice for the room of a star actress, and helped set the tranquil mood of the room. It was big too – bigger than most rooms that he had ever rented. Not that space was something he craved, but he had to say after seeing all her things that it had its perks. Some of the collectibles caught his eye as well, and he took some other slow steps around, exploring her things with interest.

Kael stepped back to the couch after doing an examining lap around the room. He bent down and grabbed his hat from the sofa cushion next to the one he had taken a seat, and with hat in his hands he slowly gazed over his shoulder to the silvery lynx in the room.
“Are you the talkative kind?” he asked the animal. Or spirit, unsure what he should call it, but fully animal it was not, that he was definitively sure of.

Rain lifted her head when Kael spoke to her.
"If I find it worth it" she answered, she had observed the man as he walked around, but so far had the man done nothing to make her act. She was far from sure about the man, what to think about him. She doubted that the man was like Vest, few were and she had to accept that.

---

Vest was walking next to Trevor, bracing herself, looking far from forward to meeting Lady Lake, she was better than her man, but far from good. Hopefully she wouldn't be able to say much about the supernaturals, seeing what her man had been accused of. Yet Vest was unsure of what the Lady would do.

She resisted to sigh, this was the part she hated the most, pretending in front of the nobles. The people at the theater was easier, it had been second nature, and she didn't need to think as much, but the nobles required more job, besides they also wished to speak about things she had no interest in. Fashion for once had never been of importance to her, yet she needed to pretend it was, as well as what gossip was important. It was true that she listened to gossip, collecting information that way, however, the one the nobles spread were rarely, if ever of interest. And she would also need to pretend to hate supernaturals so much more when she was with the nobles. It always made her tired. At least people thought she was shy and never expected much of her, yet she needed to pretend nonetheless.

The mansion was as large as she remembered it, just more guards, which didn't surprise her. The guards looked at them with suspicion at first, until they understood who they were.
"Lady Lake is in the salon," a guard said and let them in and Trevor thanked the man as they walked towards the salon to meet the Lady.

She was standing in the window, dressed in black and she didn't turned around until Trevor spoke.
"We are sorry for your lost Cathrina" she nodded and smiled towards them.
"I am pleased to see you all"
"We brought you some food" Jess said and Cathrina showed them to the table and they all sat down.

Karl let a crooked smile play out on his lips as the lynx spoke, confirming his thoughts he had from the start. There were the non-talkative types he guessed, but what he had seen or heard, these kind of spirit animals usually came with just as much vocal clarity and intelligence, if not more, as normal beings.

He wondered how the humans saw this spirit animal and their take on it. Was it just a beautiful and rare pet, tamed by hunters or grown in captivity and no more harmful than a lapdog? Or could they sense that there was something more to this silvery lynx, something more otherworldly, almost divide, shining through? Perhaps not. Humans were good at many things, but sensing these kind of things always seemed to go straight over their heads.

The half breed placed his hat onto his head and gave the lynx a slow bow of the head.
“Goodbye, Rain,” he said, not wanting to overstay his hospitality. Even without the guarding spirit, he would not linger any longer than necessary in the shaman’s room. She was a link that could be useful.

He stepped out of the door to her chambers and continued out the theatre to the outer street. People were still gossiping around about what had happened, some stories more truthful than others. It gave him a good cover to walk freely among the merchants and city dwellers, not that his appearance always drew much attention. He knew that some of the merchants knew who, or more like what, he was, but only some turned down his offers to exchange gold for goods.

Vest had stayed silent most of their talk, pretending to be struck by grief, yet she consulted Cathrina when needed, even if all she wished for was to leave the house and have some time in peace. To be honest she never thought of how effected she would be when Lord Lake died, in the aspect of pretending to be hurt. That others would be, she knew, but she never thought she would need to sit here with his wife, pretending that she was in sorrow. She almost wished she could kill them all, the thought nearly made her smile and she had to restrain herself from doing so.

"We should return, and leave you to rest," Trevor finally said and Vest collected herself, turning to Cathrina with sorrow in her eyes, fake as it could be, but the woman didn't see it.
"If you ever need something, the theater is always open for you."
"Thank you Vest," Cathrina took her hands in hers before hugging her, and the irony was almost laughable, that she thanked her husbands murder but Vest only hugged her back before they left the house.

"Vest?" Trevor asked when she stopped outside the gates and she turned towards the man.
"I wish to visit the church," she lied.
"You wish for me to escort you?"
"I am fine, I have a knife if needed," he nodded, but he looked far from unsure, and would most likely have protested unless one of the other women took his hand, needing to be comforted. Vest nodded before she turned away and went east, in the way the church was located. She had no intention of walking there, but she needed to fake it for the others. She simply needed to get away from the others for awhile, and to visit a local bar for super naturals, she only wished that she weren't dressed in a dress, but she couldn't do much about it.

"Well isn't it the star actress," a mocking voice said when she entered and she turned towards Luciel, a vampire and Vest smirked.
"I am not more famous than our next mayor," they met eyes before Luciel laughed pushing out the chair next to him and ordered her a drink. Luciel was one of the few who know what she was doing, he had even joined her on a few moments, and she always enjoyed his company. She sat down and leaned into the chair, having no reason to play shy next to him.
"Your doing?"
"What do you mean? I am a simple actress," she smirked into her drink and Luciel snorted before they started talking about the rumors from the underworld about the killing.