The building was a place Kyrik tended to avoid, the negative energy giving a repulsive aura. Featureless and made of dull grey material, it housed rogue magi and other magical criminals. For depraved murderers and others of their ilk, they were contained out of the city. Still, with so many in one location, Kyrik felt their life force and how deep their darkness – for lack of better term – ran.

Yet here he was, about to ambush the archmage right in front of it.

Predictably, he arrived within minutes on its stony steps, unable to teleport directly inside from his own wards. From the shadows, Kyrik quietly moved toward Jirmen until he was at the bottom of the stairs.

“Why are you going in there personally?” Kyrik asked. Jirmen’s grip on his staff tightened at his voice.

“I thought I told you to stay out of this, Kyrik.” Jirmen answered wearily. “As for why, I will be asking a few questions.”

Kyrik found himself bristling with a twinge of anger. Once again, Jirmen was talking down to him as if he were no more than ten. The slits in his eyes narrowed as he ascended a step.

“I’m death, Jirmen.” Kyrik said lowly, as to not alert anyone potentially listening. “I know you’re going in there to interrogate.”

One of Jirmen’s ears twitched. “Then why did you ask me?”

“Because I wanted to see if you’d continue lying to me.” Kyrik ascended another step. “I’m tired of it. I’m not that same whelp you met back then. I’m attracted to death; it’s part of who I am, and if you keep me out, he will launch his own investigation.”

Jirmen paused, staring down at Kyrik. He saw the wheels turning in the lycon’s head, all but ready to say no regardless of Kyrik’s truth.

With a heavy sigh, he relented. “I know.” He admitted. “I suppose this will work out, as I’ve been meaning to teach you something. However,” Jirmen gave Kyrik an authoritarian stare, “if I tell you to leave, you will do so without question. Understand?”

***

The shrill shriek that Azulia unleashed nearly froze Kyrik in his tracks. It penetrated every fiber of his being before reverberating off the walls and back at him again. He likened it to that of a banshee, but about three times worse.

Azulia’s treasury was astounding. He had only been in here once, and not for very long. There was a weird, hardened cocoon encased in glass at the far side. A necklace with a pulsating dark gem at the base. Next to Kyrik, a bloodied stake with the caption ‘These don’t work’. In the back, some sort of whip with a faded name that began with a ‘B’.

The queen herself stood over the shattered casing of what held the blade on hind legs. Her back was facing them, but Kyrik could tell that something was off about her. Not the rage that caused her fingers to twitch nor the red ice that had formed around them.

More spikes had formed around the neck and back area. Small, but not there previously. Darkness slowly churned around her as her wings rested on her shoulders like a cloak or cape. Kyrik’s gaze drifted to the shattered glass, where he felt a chill run down his spine:

Azulia’s eyes had become tiny red dots against a blackness.

“My queen,” Witherwing spoke. She lifted her head like a feral beast before the steward pointed to them. The small changes quickly reverted.

“It’s rare I lose composure,” she slowly turned to them. “But even I have my vices. I’m sorry you had to see that.”

“I didn’t know you could…” Kyrik trailed off, unable to think straight.

“Transform?” Azulia clicked her tongue. “You’re one to judge, Kyrik.”

“But you witnessed me do it.” He protested. “And I don’t like to do it, either!”

“Not everyone is as open about their life, Kyrik.” She replied irritably. “Besides, we have a more pressing matter to deal with right now.”

“I hope it’s one of those fabled Vampyr Killers.” Lei’s deep, muffled voice came from behind them. Kyrik nearly knocked over the stake container in surprise.

“That order died once I stomped in their doors.” Azulia replied with a cold smile. “Upon seeing me, they realized how futile it was.”

Her eyes very briefly flickered to Kali when she said that. From the look on the dreamtender’s face, she noticed it too.

“I’m sure it wasn’t your kindness that stopped them,” Kali said slowly.

“Of course not; words can only do so much.” Azulia turned back to the glass. “For example, whoever stole this will learn that no words known to any remaining god will save them from my wrath.”

For the first time since she arrived, Kyrik saw Kali wince.

“Well, do we have any leads?” Kyrik asked hopefully.

“One,” Lei said. “That we have a Hunter in our midst.”

“Now do you see why I wanted that necklace back?” Azulia asked Kali. “This is what I was trying to avoid.”

“Yeah…I understand.” Kali’s voice was hard to distinguish. Was she in thought or something else?

“I’ll go check the necromancer coven, then.” Kyrik offered. “I fit in there; they won’t mind me poking around.”

“Your friend will have to go another way if you want their trust.” Witherwing stated. “They do not take kindly to outsiders.”

“If I leave him alone, do I have your,” she pointed at Azulia, “word that you will protect him no matter what?”

“He can’t die.” Lei raised a brow. “I don’t understand your concern.”

“True, but do you want him to come back as someone who’s worse than you?” Kali shot back. “If this hunter is coming after him as well as you, I expect you to be there with him.”

“Color me interested in the possibility.”

“I will protect him,” Azulia nodded. “You two are my guests; I will not allow harm to either of you.”

“Why would you, anyway?” Kyrik asked. “If you wanted to harm us, you could have done it right now. No one would have questioned you.”

“Very well,” Kali relented with hesitation. “Where do we go from here, then? Kyrik is going to the Coven, but where does that leave us?”

“Witherwing will investigate the basement, Lei will take the east. You the west.” Azulia started to stride out of the room. “I will take the rooftops.”

Kali bumped Kyrik softly on her way out. The look she gave indicated concern, face all but telling him to be careful. He smiled at her, appreciation growing within him. The fire in her eyes had simmered a bit, replaced with compassion. For that one moment, all anger had completely vanished.

They split up, Kyrik taking the long steps to the coven. Once he was sure that he was out of sight from the others, he hid away and raised his claw. He was so happy that Jirmen ended up teaching him this ability.

In it, a floating eye made of swirling blue energy opened. It stared up at him as if awaiting commands. A Vizier’s Eye, it was called. It could detect when someone was lying to him. For the most part, anyway. It had been active this entire time, and only now did he summon to channel more energy into it. He trusted everyone, but it never hurt to have something to tell him the truth.

So far, he could tell everyone was keeping a secret. What it was, he didn’t know. It wasn’t the transformation that Azulia displayed – no, something else was afoot with her. Then again, that was normal. Lei was the only one who was transparent, surprisingly.

“Let’s hope they aren’t hiding something, huh?” Kyrik spoke to the eye. It didn’t reply. Why would it?

Hiding it again, Kyrik stepped into the coven. There were about ten of them out, with their minions. They were frightened from their expressions. Confusion and concern filled their words, with some suggesting they leave the castle somehow.

At his approach, their eyes shifted to him. “You the new one?” One asked.

“Yeah.” Kyrik nodded. “Just heard what happened. Everyone okay?”

“You know that abysean, Lei?” A female necromancer asked. “Well, he came down and started accusing our Lich of murder! We can barely work with our spells, much less attack someone!”

“Who’s the lich again?” Kyrik asked.

“I am.”

The familiar face of Valir stepped forward. She walked with a small hobble, held up by a dragon around Kyrik’s size. Percious, he guessed. Valir’s eyes narrowed at him, but didn’t send him away like he thought she might.

“What are you doing here?” She rasped out.

“I think you know why I am.” Kyrik answered guiltily.

“Hmph, so our queen still doesn’t trust us.” She tsked. “Alright, what do you want to ask?”

“Well, I didn’t want to ask you anything.” Kyrik watched her be taken slightly aback. “I want to ask them.”

“And what do you hope to learn this time?”

“Someone broke into Azulia’s treasury and stole a weapon,” Kyrik explained. Just about all of them had their jaw drop at how casually he spoke of their queen. Valir merely rolled her eyes. “I’m not accusing anyone of anything. I only want to know if anyone saw something.”

Valir was the only one who took him seriously. A hatchling; interrogating them? How preposterous! If only they knew what he was. Kyrik could transform here and now but meant what he said about not liking to. Besides, their leader knew what he was. They had no choice but to let him.

It went as well as expected with the first two. They didn’t take him at full value, despite their Lich sitting in. Saw nothing, heard nothing. It wasn’t until Valir slammed her tail on the table did they start answering.

“How are you doing, by the way?” Kyrik asked her.

“Like I was slammed against a wall.” She answered bluntly. “Feels like someone scrambled my mind, too.”

“Likely from Lei’s attack.” He said a bit too quickly.

She eyed him. “Yes, that must be it.”

A few more came and went, and Kyrik felt himself getting a bit tired. It was hard to resist thumping his head against the table they sat at and falling asleep. He’d done it in worse places.

The eye began to buzz halfway through the questions. It was right after he asked if someone suspicious had stalked by. Kyrik perked up in anticipation.

“Yes, you did.” Kyrik cut her off when she said no. “I can tell when someone is lying.”

“How? You are just a-” The necromancer scoffed.

“Whelp with a Vizier’s Eye.” He uncloaked it. Valir blinked in surprise. The necromancer in questioning stared in shock. “You saw someone. So why are you lying?”

“Because I didn’t realize until after that they weren’t a part of our coven.” She answered quietly. “I didn’t want to raise alarm, either. The Queen was already riled up and Lei had just taken you,” the necromancer turned to Valir. “I thought it was just someone passing through. So many newcomers lately.”

“But something about the passer bothered you, didn’t it?” Kyrik offered a kind smile. “I understand why you lied and I’m not here to out you. I’m sure Valir won’t hold it against you.”

“I make no promises.” The lich stated. Kyrik narrowed his gaze at her. “Fine.”

“She was a shriker, of that I am certain.” The necromancer said. “She moved really fast, but I thought I saw a long spike of bone in her grasp. Bulky bio-suit, too. But it was torn, like someone had ravaged it. By the time I blinked again, she was gone.”

Kyrik stood up, eyes wide and dilated. His breathing accelerated. “Are…are you sure?”

“Yes, positive.” She confirmed. “I think this shriker had purple skin, too. But it was extraordinarily pale.”

“I-I have to go.” Kyrik bolted out of the cave, pushing past everyone else and running down the hall. He heard Valir cry out after him, but he was long gone.