The Machine [Open/Accepting]

[lil_lollypop1]

"Here's what I don't get." She told Damien. "There's a storm going on outside, so the window isn't an option. And did you see? After a little bit of searching, they went in that door. No one came out of that door. The killer is still in there or has a different way of getting around. I'm banking on the second."

"That's a strange observation." Jian commented.

"Not really. If I have time to think before I ever enter a dangerous situation, I always look for an escape route. If he's planning on killing that many people, I have no doubt that he probably did the same. Three soldiers went in... He could be using a disguise, but I think the soldiers would notice if they had an additional member in their party if he comes out too quickly." She muttered. Slowly, she turned her head, looking at Damien's face carefully.  

[Eternal_PrinceOfFire]

Damien took all this information in. He then noticed Shadow was staring at him. "What?!" he snapped, getting even more irritated.  

[lil_lollypop1]

"Daww~ Is my presence getting on someone's nerves?" She giggled, poking his shoulder. "Or is it something else?" She smiled wickedly as she tilted her head slightly as if implying something.  

[Eternal_PrinceOfFire]

Damien grabbed the finger that was poking him and gently pushed Shadow's hand away. "We don't have time for this. We need to figure out what's going on and where this person will strike next" Damien said. He was worried that the killer was trying to make it look like Diethelm was behind this to try and start a full on global war.  

[lil_lollypop1]

"I know." She replied with a light pat on his shoulder. "Do you have any input to add? I always figured you were good at this sort of thing."  

[Eternal_PrinceOfFire]

"Well, that depends on who this assailant is targeting. If it's the guests, then going back to the guest rooms would be a bad idea. If they're attacking the clergy, then we shouldn't stay around here. This person must be nimble as they were able to get from this location to over where the next victim was without being detected, as well as getting in this city in the first place, so they're no amateur" Damien said, while thinking.  

[lil_lollypop1]

Shadow nodded. "I got a glimpse at the list. Mostly guests. Few clergy members but not many. It sounded like it was written by a psychopath. Whoever is doing it isn't using a gun either. It's something sharp."

"Perhaps something like a long sword."

"I was thinking a halberd initially, but I highly doubt a killer can get around with one." Shadow sighed. "Perhaps you are right. Well, I'm going to go guard the priestess."

"Wait." Jian replied.

"What?" Shadow grimaced.

"Both you and I are injured, and I don't want Damien getting into harms way. If the assassin is as good as we are thinking he is, we three should stick together. We'll be more likely to get through this that way." Jian replied.

"You mean, you two will. I'm not a potential target. And don't forget that you are the reason I'm injured, and the last time I saved his a**, I was put in a tank for a full year. Oh, and I didn't forget the time before that when I got Damien out of the tower during a lockout and you attempted to kidnap me. Not to mention he stole my first kiss and had me locked in a cell. So yeah, have fun surviving considering that no one here likes you and the Grand Priestess is probably still in shock. You are terrible people and I hate you both." She snapped, most of her anger directed at Damien.  

[Eternal_PrinceOfFire]

Damien rolled his eyes. "Leave her. Let's go" he said to Jian and then started walking away.  

[lil_lollypop1]

Jian said nothing, turning to look back at Shadow who was walking away before turning and looking at Damien. "So, what do you think we should do?" He asked, but before he could wait for Damien's answer, there was another scream.  

[Eternal_PrinceOfFire]

"These screams are starting to get annoying" Damien said, still peeved about Shadow. He looked at Jian, then in the direction the scream came from. "This person seems to be going all over the place"  

[lil_lollypop1]

"Yeah. I wonder if he has accomplices." Jian muttered, noticing the frustrated expression on his face. "... Are you alright?" He asked, guessing it was because of Shadow, and he wondered why it bothered him so much. Granted, most people that Damien disliked got killed and somehow she managed to stay alive.  

[Eternal_PrinceOfFire]

"I think she was rubbing it my face that she had escaped us multiple times, because she know it would get to me" Damien said to Jian, talking about Shadow. "However, we need to focus on this mysterious assailant right now" the Absolute Leader said, mostly to himself to make sure his mind was in the right place. It was no time to dwell on Shadow. There was a dangerous person or persons going around assaulting those staying at Mt. Angelo and no one knew why.  

[lil_lollypop1]

"Indeed. Still, I think we should take her observation into consideration. I saw no one leave the room. They've been organizing guards to be stationed outside the doors and patrolling the halls for the sake of privacy, but now they'll probably have to change tactics. They have to be traveling through some hidden route, but the only two ways they could go are up and down." Jian grimaced with a sigh. "This is frustrating."  

[Eternal_PrinceOfFire]

"I wonder..." Damien thought, then looked up. "I wonder if they're travelling across the rooftops. If they're professionally trained, then it would come as no surprise. However, if it's just someone going around attacking people, then I don't know" he said. "Unless there's an underground connection between everything".  

[lil_lollypop1]

"Yes, though it may be harder to do from below, I think. You'd have to have stairs or something set up to move quickly. If there's a large room upstairs, he may have set everything up to drop down quickly and climb back up. I don't think people initially look up when searching for a killer." Jian replied.