Thankfully, once Zoe left the church, she didn’t meet anyone. No strange creature with different colored eyes was waiting for her at the entrance and nothing relatively dark was nearby. If anything, the only detail that made her feel different was the mist.667Please respect copyright.PENANA2oQkhN0HWt
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Her phone rung right when she stopped down the last stair.667Please respect copyright.PENANA4mx87ijV8c
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“We need you in, Lestrade. We’ve got a case.” Roberts’ voice was serious compared to the tone he used before but she could still hear him munch on his lollipop.667Please respect copyright.PENANA2beBoDfF03
667Please respect copyright.PENANA2NmeqFl4qE
Zoe hung up and sighed before she returned to work. Suspiciously, during the way to the precinct she didn’t feel or see anything strange. Out of reflex, she looked closer at the people passing her but none seemed to care about anything but themselves.667Please respect copyright.PENANATT27HGAedC
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As soon as she walked through the front doors, she was immediately pulled aside by a newbie, officer fresh from the bench of the Police Academy. His name: Rory Goldberg but everyone calls him Goldenlocks because of his blond hair.667Please respect copyright.PENANAOPiGuC6qVY
667Please respect copyright.PENANAmdRI1RZZ5c
“Lestrade, this case, maybe you shouldn’t get involved. I mean, we don’t need a profiler when we we get cases of suicide.” Rory whispered, glancing at the doors leading to the morgue.667Please respect copyright.PENANA1hyoRHXjZK
667Please respect copyright.PENANAOUxis7e0Mp
“Even if it looks like suicide it may be not. There are many ways to make it seem like the victim killed himself when in truth, the culprit did it. It’s also a way of hiding guilt and blame on the victim for his death and the culprit’s intent.” She explained calmly.667Please respect copyright.PENANAMpuz8AEvLq
667Please respect copyright.PENANAALbkChykIh
Rory knew she was right but that wasn’t important at the moment. Unfortunately, Roberts walked out those grey metal doors leading to the morgue and spotted Zoe immediately. He also noticed Rory, worriedly whispering something that she seemed not to care about.667Please respect copyright.PENANAUTT0B22ZcB
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“Goldenlocks! I’d appreciate if you could let my profiler come and take a look at the victim.”667Please respect copyright.PENANA7BgbtwZvGM
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“But sir-“ The detective shushed him by holding up his hand.667Please respect copyright.PENANAow01PA8NSZ
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“I’m sure your intentions are good but Lestrade is a tough woman.”667Please respect copyright.PENANAHuhjo7ay9X
667Please respect copyright.PENANAr2lVfCUEwJ
That only increased her curiosity. As soon as Roberts nudged her, she followed him without a question. In the end, what could be so important? Who was on the metal bed, torn into pieces for the sake of information?667Please respect copyright.PENANAO3LgzDQPFB
667Please respect copyright.PENANA1twvQfRJ4j
Those questions had one answer and it wasn’t what Zoe expected. Her eyes widened when she saw the familiar face but nothing else really happened.667Please respect copyright.PENANAHoOXFEa9vz
667Please respect copyright.PENANAt72v4jLhjd
Roberts let her walk closer to the corpse and even uncovered his face for her. From the side, he couldn’t help but feel content that she wasn’t the type to overreact. Ever since he met her for the first time, he could see she had no empathy for those in pains or for the dead.667Please respect copyright.PENANAZTq2loWFFF
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“Stefan Rowland. 24 years old. Died of asphyxiation.”667Please respect copyright.PENANA7pSSehhkUB
667Please respect copyright.PENANA7y3vAK62DQ
Zoe’s eyes moved on his neck but he didn’t have any marks. The detective had an answer for that.667Please respect copyright.PENANA8zdAxCdrcg
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“He was found covered in a corpse bag with blood surrounding him. Not his, that’s for sure.”667Please respect copyright.PENANAibZU8MohZI
667Please respect copyright.PENANA1OyI7VK75T
“There’s more,” The forensic specialist, doctor Carla Chang, added, “I found pieces of flesh under his nails and a lot of other strange stuff like cut marks on his legs and arms covered with foundation, a strange cut on his back that was done especially to leave a deep scar and the insides are torn apart.”She said before pulling over a table with Stefan’s insides, “A person’s body can act differently to a lot of things. It looks as if he ate something sharp that scratched his throat and even caused internal bleeding. His kidneys are in a bad condition and his lungs- pitch black and rotten.”667Please respect copyright.PENANAwlyACs3xl0
667Please respect copyright.PENANAplFVaTXa5E
“So he was a heavy smoker?” Roberts asked staring at the pale corpse.667Please respect copyright.PENANAX1RrQPjyzc
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“No. It looks like he injected something or swallowed some kind of poison that acted that way throughout his body.” Dr Chang added, glancing at the corpse from time to time.667Please respect copyright.PENANASwyGP0Yqdv
667Please respect copyright.PENANANb61J7tXsZ
Zoe looked at the heart on the table, partially cut and partially looking like someone pumped a lot of black substance into it, before she turned to the body. Stefan was an enthusiastic guy when it came to occultism but he never spoke about his life outside university before.667Please respect copyright.PENANAtnsOvgsnJr
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“Could it have been an initiation of some sorts?” Zoe asked the doctor who in return shrugged.667Please respect copyright.PENANALhUmDsEbnx
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“Maybe. But what kind of cult would damage their members so deeply?”667Please respect copyright.PENANAZs1KAkJSIj
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Zoe didn’t know. Humans are complex beings and they are extremely good at hiding their true intentions. Zoe has always been bad with humans.667Please respect copyright.PENANAzfXg3qgxdV
667Please respect copyright.PENANAyjv1gAZ9hj
“You said he has a scar on his back. Can I see it?” Zoe asked, curious if that could help in any way.667Please respect copyright.PENANAK4P2Rr9hyD
667Please respect copyright.PENANAcX0QAJRtor
Dr Chang nodded but when she tried to move him on his side, only enough to show bits of his back, she couldn’t. Zoe raised an eyebrow watching the detective help the doctor yet not even together they couldn’t move the corpse.667Please respect copyright.PENANA5WkqafN87q
667Please respect copyright.PENANAe7gULEDIRX
“Do you think there’s something inside him that makes him so heavy?” Roberts asked, as confused as everyone else.667Please respect copyright.PENANA9nl3Td2gD1
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“I am sure I checked everything but if there’s something else, I’ll have to check again.” She said, staring confusedly at the body. She easily turned him around when she did the autopsy so how could a dead and empty body become so heavy in such a short time?
As soon as Zoe walked out, she went straight into the bathroom. It was cramped and even worse, not very clean, but she could use it in that state. The brunette splashed some water on her face before she looked up at the mirror.667Please respect copyright.PENANAuSh6BIinwT
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“What’s on his back?” She asked.667Please respect copyright.PENANA4R1MmjTh0W
667Please respect copyright.PENANA08AVy0TCyf
“Blunt as usual, aren’t you? Why don’t you go home for today. You must be tired after killing that Whisperer.” Gakhas answered, appearing before her into the mirror. His eyes were staring at her with the same blankness as she remembered.667Please respect copyright.PENANAdSXOnnaN8S
667Please respect copyright.PENANApsPENwYSBQ
“Stefan was interested in occultism because he loved the idea that there’s something more to this world than what he can see. If he were to make a pact, I would have felt it.”667Please respect copyright.PENANAbcWZ3X6hVj
667Please respect copyright.PENANAxzZRaOT7B6
Gakhas sighed seeing the repercussions of having a well-taught commander. She definitely studied like a nerd when she had an interest.667Please respect copyright.PENANAUIpn4944wx
667Please respect copyright.PENANAWIvMntIA97
“He didn’t. You are not good with human, Zoe. Humans lie and hide and they do it all for their own gain. Selfish little bastards, that’s what they are. This Stefan was no different.” The demon hissed, his eyes narrowing at her.667Please respect copyright.PENANAV3rBwL3vbw
667Please respect copyright.PENANAEyAKFPPwgF
“Is that what you have learned while spending time around me? Is that what Ezekiel taught you when he sacrificed for others?” She asked, seemingly calm but Gakhas could see her eyes darkening slightly around the corners.667Please respect copyright.PENANA2LCbjaOBYc
667Please respect copyright.PENANAxUIUFZ1SsI
The short demon scoffed and vanished, letting her see the small change in her eyes. Zoe leaned against the sink and forced herself to calm down. She was in a place full of police men- human police men- and she wanted to go home without any incidents.667Please respect copyright.PENANABAW7lrv3WZ
Unfortunately, as soon as she left the bathroom, Rory found her again and pulled her aside. He was ready to apologize for the death of her acquaintance when she stopped him.667Please respect copyright.PENANAwCVEVovEcG
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“The victim is nothing but that, a victim. I don’t need to be comforted. You should do that to his parents when they will come for him.” She cut it short before she went straight into Roberts’ office.667Please respect copyright.PENANArLNouGZlej
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“So, do you think he was part of some cult? Kids these days look for trouble everywhere and their curiosity is endless.”667Please respect copyright.PENANAgJwNTwlPaT
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“No. But it doesn’t matter because tomorrow morning, the whole campus will create their little opinions. If you’ll go ask around, I’m sure they’ll add details that don’t exist.” She explained, knowing how fast rumors spread.667Please respect copyright.PENANAJzjaP6viEA
When Zoe arrived home, she only had time to unlock the door before she was faced with complete and utter silence. She used everything she learned from Chris in order to have a normal life at home. It proved to be effective since nothing dared come close to her apartment building.667Please respect copyright.PENANAEWyqUI3MEe
667Please respect copyright.PENANAbBVKsJxDqN
The brunette profiler sighed happily and closed the door behind her before placing her bag on the table in the kitchen and walking in front of the windows. Unlike the small apartment situated in a bad neighborhood, Roberts helped her buy a better apartment, rather large for a single person but still welcoming compared to others. She glanced at her bedroom for a moment before she looked down at her feet and sighed. It was silent. She could live just like any other woman her age but at the same time, it was-667Please respect copyright.PENANA63bOaaBd3r
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“Lonely?”667Please respect copyright.PENANAFK65zCu1MD
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Zoe’s eyes widened at the whisper. It was too close for comfort and it wasn’t anyone that felt familiar.667Please respect copyright.PENANAQdhKiW5TIY
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“Don’t have to be so tense, commander. Or should I call you inheritor now? Even better, Princess.”667Please respect copyright.PENANAjjCgRPlKSC
667Please respect copyright.PENANAw26CVDTeEw
He was enjoying himself way too much to be a demon that fought along her. One glance over her shoulder was enough to know who was inside her house, breaking the barrier when she entered.667Please respect copyright.PENANAWWqDW8lLP1
667Please respect copyright.PENANAXKCm29mhu7
“I’m sure you remember me. We had a lot of fun in Mammon’s treasure room.” He added, sensing from the way her mark twitched that she had a name to place on his face.667Please respect copyright.PENANA0saakRKBOP
667Please respect copyright.PENANAOe1bneFLxP
“Mepalham,” She mumbled, turning to face him, “Have you been watching me too?”667Please respect copyright.PENANA0Tec3Jm9qu
667Please respect copyright.PENANAIeGVyntWQp
“Of course! We’ve been watching in pairs since Beelzebub instructed us not to use the mirrors often. He’s become very suspicious lately.” Mepalham explained, spinning around with his mouth wide open.667Please respect copyright.PENANAPFRB1x752V
667Please respect copyright.PENANAHqMJrBh3hv
“Why is he suspicious? I haven’t done anything.” Zoe grumbled, deciding she should just go on with her daily life than get stuck in Mepalham’s dark presence.667Please respect copyright.PENANA0sBl9kq4eQ
667Please respect copyright.PENANA7PntXq43hD
The greed demon closed his mouth but raised his eyebrows, more like an expression than anything Gakhas could ever manage.667Please respect copyright.PENANAiRaJcY698b
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“Not you. Why would he when he knows every little thing you do,” The demon started, finding her funny for thinking so high of herself. “But of course we can’t speak about it. It’s strictly forbidden to speak about Hell’s business when we’re here.”667Please respect copyright.PENANA3AeB01pPQg
667Please respect copyright.PENANAVZEd4NUBOc
Zoe raised an eyebrow but shrugged the greed demon off quickly. He was a good liar and could easily make everything up just for his own entertainment.667Please respect copyright.PENANAK6d26tYvY7
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“Then please leave me alone. It’s hard to get in but very easy to get out.” The brunette mumbled, walking towards the bathroom.667Please respect copyright.PENANAcTLHIHvGGK
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After such a complex series of events, Zoe wanted nothing else but to bath in silence and peace.667Please respect copyright.PENANA0lBTRGKhSz
667Please respect copyright.PENANARI5gxwVLog
“But Zoe, aren’t you curious why Gakhas didn’t let you see your friend’s back?” Mepalham asked, appearing too close to her. He was slightly taller than Gakhas but still a few centimeters shorter than Zoe, “I can show you.”667Please respect copyright.PENANAuGMJykqEQA
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“I don’t want to. I’ll find out on my own.”667Please respect copyright.PENANACxqHZzbmry
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That seemed to be enough because Mepalham left.667Please respect copyright.PENANAHDiHBgXwD8
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Having a bath has always been complicated back when she was in England. Fairies, ghosts and demons would barge in with the weirdest reasons but only once did Zoe really get scared: when Merhdir almost drowned her in what was an illusion done by a vanity demon. She could still feel that overpowering atmosphere but when she looked at the bathroom door and saw it closed and unmoving, she knew it was just a feeling and nothing more.667Please respect copyright.PENANAmZ4HK9e2us
667Please respect copyright.PENANAWjqq1XOQtV
The brunette leaned on the sink and wiped the mirror enough to look at her appearance. Her face looked healthy and clean, she was thinner than last year but that was only because she had to keep down the costs for food. Her blue eyes were the same yet something was different; it was barely noticeable but she knew it was there.667Please respect copyright.PENANATEsc6jjV8u
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The demon.667Please respect copyright.PENANAgfzPvrU92y
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She could feel him squirm inside her body, trying to release the power she had in Hell. In times like these, when she was alone and naked of any social influence, she could let it out. The change in her eyeballs, in her chin and just every feature of her face, everything was shifting. Those blue eyes became pitch black with an orange dot in the middle that was slightly rolling in its place. Her chin fell as parts of her facial skeleton begun to show. The demon looked back at her as if it wasn’t his fault that she moved on another continent.667Please respect copyright.PENANA7UC2nF8iCe
667Please respect copyright.PENANABylYAAmPdI
As fast as the change occurred, it disappeared as if it never happened in the first place. Zoe sighed and wrapped a towel around her naked body before walking into her bedroom. She changed into her yellow silk pajamas and got in bed. Just like before, Zoe had to gulp down three sleeping pills for her to rest enough.667Please respect copyright.PENANAtXrvm0m1lU
A sleek and tall creature was standing right outside her open bedroom, watching her with intense red eyes. It tilted its head to the side as it saw her roll on her side and the creature snickered darkly. He swayed his clawed hand slowly, enough for the sheet to fall down to her waist. It didn’t seem to wake her up at all so the creature moved closer to its victim.667Please respect copyright.PENANAKUiydI4PD0
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With the sleeping pills slowly losing their effect, Zoe felt more aware of the world around her. Just like before, when she could fake sleep and wait for whatever was around her to leave, she stood still as if nothing was wrong.667Please respect copyright.PENANAtYksnHTk96
667Please respect copyright.PENANAybhs3MvEwx
The creature tilted his head to the side even more, looking like he was ready to bend his body. He was very careful not to wake her up because really, he only wanted to observe. Zoe Lestrade was a name he heard so often amongst demons so he wanted to explore.667Please respect copyright.PENANAg5EnqXgJwD
667Please respect copyright.PENANArH0soSiHdU
Zoe was waking up and first she heard a faint sound, as if something was crawling towards her bed. The tension rose when the creature got next to her.667Please respect copyright.PENANATt1r3Y1if8
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The demon blinked its red eyes but didn’t move an inch afterwards. It was strange even for him to stand and just watch- no, admire. Zoe was a woman, a demon in a human shell and she could bleed, feel and die. She could die and that itself was extraordinary in its eyes.667Please respect copyright.PENANAWnMePy5Rcn
667Please respect copyright.PENANAArsfqYwAmq
He wasn’t very smart but he was drawn to her; he leaned in and caressed her face. If he wanted to, he could scratch her so badly that it would leave a mark but that would have serious consequences. If Leviathan were to know an unlisted demon got out, he’d apply severe punishment.667Please respect copyright.PENANAycsxqsXkBI
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Unconsciously, the creature whispered something. It wasn’t for her to know but she was awake, to his misfortune.667Please respect copyright.PENANAcW3lEclqp9
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“Hell has changed because of you,”667Please respect copyright.PENANAMCGvxspnJf
667Please respect copyright.PENANAB7AHcN7jPv
Zoe frowned. She groaned and rolled over so she could at least get a glimpse of what entered her home. The creature hissed loudly before silence filled the apartment once again. Zoe opened her eyes but he was already gone.667Please respect copyright.PENANAz7WE1RgQmP
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“For how meticulously he approached me, he definitely left in a hurry.” Zoe mumbled, knowing she won’t be able to go back to sleep.667Please respect copyright.PENANA2IOvAMMwNE