Saffron paused at the door, looking back at him a moment. "Waht ever you're going to do Matt, be careful yourself." She said, before slipping from the room. She took a moment in the empty hall, to replace the pendent around her neck, before she opened the door to her own room and stopped. The chest at the end of the bed was over turned, her bag was dumped all over the bed, but the thing that got her the most was the cruifix had been nailed to the wall, upside down.

Matt went to the fireplace and felt for the catch again. Instead of opening it., he just memorized how far in it was. He was tempted to jam it open, but anything tha could throw him across the rom, could remove anything he used to jam it. He retrieved his machete where it had landed half under the bed, and after taking a breath and running through it in his mind, he ran the blade lightly over his arm, drawing a thin line of blood. He smeared some of it along the blade, then went to the secret door and drew a line down the seam of the corner. A growl started form inside the room that grew louder the higher the line went. When he was done, he ran for SAfron's room.

Saffron had managed to move from the door way, though she'd left the door open a crack. Her eyes were still on the cruifix, she didn't know rather to leave it there, or retrieve it. She went over to the bed, and began picking up the stuff that had been dumped then stopped. Her mother's locket, that she'd found in the house in ireland, that contianed the only baby picture Saffron knew of, of herself as a girl, with a lock of her own hair, was missing. Dropping what she had in her hand, she began searching through the mess and even got down on the floor, looking under the bed, and around the bedside table, but it wasn't any where to be seen. "You son of a bitch! Give it back!" She snapped at the corner, from the floor.

Matt skidded into teh room and ran to the corner where he drew a line form floor to the top of the secret door, assuming of course there was one one thise side of teh room... and he was willing to bet there was. The wall actually shook with the angry bellow that issued fomr the hidden room as Matt finished his line. Only when he was done did he turn to see SAffron on the floor. "Babe... what the fuck are you doing?" he asked. "I don;t see any swords out... could've sworn I said for you to get our your swords..."

Saffron was still searching and threw a handfull of clothes angerily on the bed. "The bastard has taken my locket!" She hissed."My bag was dumped out on my bed and the locket isn't here." She took another look under the bed just in case she was wrong. "That was my mother's locket. It has my baby picture and lock of my hair in it!" Then she pointed to the cruifix. "And he nailed that to the wall like that!"

Matt grabbed her by the arm and pulled her to her feet. "Fine.. we'll get it back... Right now.. call your damned swords! I sealed him in the fucking room, but it won';t hold him long.. if you want to see whats in there, we have to do it now!"

Saffron blinked, then gave him a glare. "You know how to get in there?! And you didn't tell me?!" With a growl, she summoned both her swords, still glaring at him. "You didn't trust me, did you?"

"WAsn't that i didn't trust you... I was trying to protect you! That thing had already attacked you, remember?!" he said as he moved to the fireplace and reached for the spot where the catch should be... and found nothing. He scowled and stretched further, still not finding it. "Damn it... I was sure there'd be..." he suddenly snorted and moved to the far side of the fireplace. "Fuckig opposites.." he muttered as he found the catch and hit it.

"It wasn't like I would have charged in there blind, you know. Four years in hell and twelve in the black court did teach me to be cautious." She replied, rolling her eyes, before the corner began to open. A whimper came from the other side of the bed. The boy was crouched, looking over the top of the bed fearfully, but when Saffron went to speak, the boy said one thing before disappearing. "Don't let it out!"

Matt snorted. "It was already out kid...." he said softly as he moved to SAffron's side. "Don;t leave my side... wait..." he said and coaxed a bit more blood form his cut to rub along the edge of her blades. "Only kind of blood magic I can use... the stuff that uses my own to boost my powers... It might help you.. Necro's are the bane of teh spirit world... Who knows..."

"Who knows..." Saffron agreed, looking at the dark entrance. "Well, you wanna go first or do I?" She asked, glancing at him.

"I will..." he said as he took  a cautious step. "After all... If he tosses me again, you'll have time to run.." he said, then moved a bit more quickly to the door, remembering his own worries about the time. "Fuck.. still dont have a flashlight..." he muttered softly.

"I can remedy that." Saffron replied, turning back to her bed and pulled a small flash light from the side pocket of her bag, turning it on and handing it to him as she joined him. The air beyond, in the slim tunnel was cold and damp. And getting colder.

Matt shone the light inside and cursed again. "Tunnell.. means multiple exits .. which means he's probably headed for one of them..." he muttered, his voice automatically going quiet, then stepped inside. "stay close, babe..." he sid softly.

Saffron rolled her eyes. "No, I'm going to run off a head of you...of course I'm staying close." She replied, following him. The tunnel was narrow and it was impossible not to brush against the cold stone, which seemed charged with electic shocks. Saffron winced each time. The cold was slowly getting worse. Then the tunnel stopped at an old wooden door.

Matt gripped his machete a bit tighter as he stopped at the door. "Oh.. such a bad feeling about this..." he said softly. "And don't be such a smart ass... I lost you for five months... I have you again and I'm  a tad paranoid about losing you .. so fucking sue me.." he muttered softly as he shone the light over the door. "What do you think... what are the odds it's open?"

"Slim." Saffron replied, pointing to the old key hole. She reached around Matt and tried the door, and found it indeed locked. "What ever he's hiding, he's trying to hide very well indeed." She said with a sigh.

"Yeah well... old door... old WOOD door... wood doesn't age well.. and it's damp in here.. Definately not good for wood.." Matt muttered softly. "Can try to break it down... might be quicker then trying to pick that thing... my picks are back in my coat anyhow..."

"You can try, Matt, but don't be surprised if it doesn't give way, and doesn't open for anything but the key..." Saffron replied, looking back down the tunnell, the intense feeling of being watched. She realized if she was going to get anything out of Lord Ashtor at dinner, she might be forced to flirt back.

Matt took a breath and handed her the flash light and slid his machete back into its sheath. "This is going to hurt... I may need you to help take care of that later.." he said witha slight smirk, then stole a quick kiss. "gods I've missed that... One night... one night and I was addicted.... " he added with a soft smile before turning back to the door. He drew a couple deep breathes before slamming shoulder first into the heavy door. "Fuck... " he muttered, tempted to try it again despite the fact the door had barely even rattled at the blow. "Fuck." he repeated a bit louder. "Youre right.. key or picks..."

Saffron looked again back down the tunnel. uneasy. "we're probably just better off looking for that key...do you think you could find the boy?" She asked, looking back at him. "I think he may be the only one who's willing to help."

"Yeah... no problem.. I don;t even have to look.. He finds me as soon as I get clear of the bedrooms..." he said then turned and slipped his arm around her waist. "Lets get back  to your room. I dont; wnat to press our luck. And get your shit togetehr... you are NOT staying in there... You're not staying anywhere alone.."

Saffron sighed. "I'm geting my locket back before this weekend is done with." She stated, but didn't object to leaving. Once out of the tunnel, the coldness receeded. Saffron sighed, vanishing her swords and went to the bed, shoving all her things back in the bag.

"don't worry, babe.. we'll find it." Matt said simply as he triggered the switch to close the door behind them again. " Saff? Thanks. For not arguing about the room." he said softly, his eyes on the corner.

Saffron snorted softly, glancing back at him. "You've made a good point...and now...he has something personal of mine...I don't think that's going to prove to be a good thing..." She said softly, stuffing the last of her things in her bag, grabbed the stuff off the bedside table and shoved it in as well. She glanced at the clock. "I'm going to talk to Lord Ashtor at dinner, see if I can't get more details on that legend."

Matt groaned and caught hold of her. "Aww.. fuck... " he said in a soft whine. "He's going to flirting with you ... I can't stand that... I'll hurt him.." he said then sighed heavily as he cradled the side of her face in one hand. "But I said I wasn't going to be there.... I don;t like leaving you alone with him, Saff... If he tried anything... hurt him. Or I will." he said with a soft smirk.

Saffron snorted, looking at him. "You realize, that to get anything out of him, I may have to flirt back. But if he trys any thing fresh, you'll certainly know about it." She added with a slight smirk. "Besides, the glamour will be in place, maybe that'll be enough to deter him in front of his company...English lords after all, wouldn't openly flirt with a far to feminine boy."

"Assuming the other guests are here....I didn't see anyone outside of staff while I was wandering around." Matt said simply. "I love you, Saff.. if you have to flirt... gods.. just don;t tell me about it. I'll have to hurt somebody..."

"Hmm...that suggest you're jealous...is that why you were such an ass to this afternoon?" Saffron asked, with a raised eyebrow. "And as for the rest of the guests...I imagine they're arriving as we speak."

"Hell yeah I'm jealous.... How could I not be? I want to be the one youre with... I want to be the one you look at.. talk to... flirt with... The fact that its not me, buit someone else... fucking pisses me off..." he said then shurgged lightly. "but since its in a good cause... I'll just suffer. Just .. don;t enjoy it or anything.."

Saffron shook her head, grabbing her bag. "I assure you, I wont enjoy it. I never have...cept with you. I need to change, before I go down there.  Just...what ever you do, while I'm down stairs, be careful."

"don;t worry.... I'll stay out of the rooms... I'll pop down and let Kitchens know I wont be in my room for dinner...Maybe i'll find someplace nearby in case you need me." he said, slipping a hand to the small of her back and leading her out of the room. "I'll talk to the boy and see what I can get out of him.. And I'll ask if anyone's seen your locket."

"Did the ghosts, by any chance, mention where the chapel in this place is?" Saffron asked softly. They could hear other guests moving around down stairs and a few in the other bedrooms as they left the room. "Cause a chapel is usually the only place in a castle where the malicious ghots can't go. May be a good idea to know where it is. I'll ask Lord Ashtor about it too."

Matt led her into his room and shut the doro behind them. "I'll check on the chapel too, then... now get changed. I'll turn my back.. but I'm not leaving you alone..."

Saffron snorted softly, shaking her head a bit before sitting her bag on the bed, and dug out a more formal change of clothes for the dinner. Glancing back over her shoulder, she began changing into a pair of black satin pants and a black shirt with lace sleeves. Fashion cue from Lex...

Matt stared at the closed door in front of him, doing his best not to give in to temptation and turn around. The soft sounds of material sliding over skin was almost more than he could take. Other than the sounds of Saffron getting dressed, the room was quiet... no signs of any creature of ghost..

Saffron replaced the pendent, once dressed, with a frown, some times the glamour gave her a headache. "I'll do my best not to get dragged into the card games, so I'll be back up here as soon as I can." She said softly, changing her shoes.

"Alright. I suppose we need to come up with a new plan for dealing with these things...Find out what you can at dinner and if Astor gets too fresh... hurt him. " he said then smirked as he listened to her moving around behind him. "I said that already didn't I ?"

Saffron smirked slightly, "Yus you did, and I believe I told you I would. No worries." She said softly, finishing. Zipping up her bag, she sat it on the floor, turning toward him. "And try not to piss off the ghost any more tonight..."

Matt smirked. "Yeah.. well... you know me... Pissing people off is what I do...but i'll try." he said. "Safe t turn around now?"

"Yus, it's safe. And yus, but for a few hours, try to be on your best behavior." She replied, smirking. She glanced at the clock again, she still had a bit of time.

Matt turned and smiled sheepishly as he saw the glamor back in place. "It's not fair... you broke my heart.. I should be mad at you... But .. damn ... guy or girl...seeing you .... I just want you back..." he said softly as he took a step closer. "I'm sorry if I came on too strong before, Saffron. I just fell so damned hard for you...."

Saffron sighed, looking away a moment, before shaking her head. "I never meant to break your heart...I just...was unused to having some one want me like that. I was just afraid...I know that doesn't make an awful lot of sense to most people..."

Matt closed the distance between them, slipping an arm around her and pressing a finger to her lips. "Don;t.. I didn't mean it as .. I understand, babe. And if I thought you had done it on purpose, it wouldn't matter how gorgeous you were...." he brushed his finger acros her lips softly then gave a low moan. "Damn...." he said in a near whisper, before he caught her lips with his own, kissing her hungrily.

Saffron submitted to the kiss with a soft whimper, eyes closed, but pulled away from the kiss after a moment, before things could go any further. "I've never loved any one else the way I have you, Matt, I'm sorry for running...I thought it was the best choice at the time..."

"Shh.." Matt stopped her, kising her again."I know...as long as you're with me now... its alright...I should've gone after you..." he said softly, then shook his head. "I've missed you, Saff..."

Saffron smiled wearily. "Yus well, was quiet misrable with out you. So there." She sighed softly, before slipping from him. "I'd better go on down stairs..."

"One more kiss.... Before I send you off to flirt with other men all night.." he asked softly, with a slight smirk as he caught her hand."Please." he added, even more softly.

Saffron turned back toward him, looking at him a moment, before stepping back up to him, slipping an arm around his neck and pulling him into a long deep kiss.

Matt closed his eyes as he held her close, kissing her back just as deeply. He reluctantly broke the kiss with a sigh. "So... shall I ask Kitchesn to prepare another room for you and lock that one up?"

"It would probably be a good idea to lock that room...but another room depends on rather how many guests are here..." Saffron replied softly. "But then again, you're the one who said you didn't want to leave me alone in this place..."

"Yeah... but...I'm not going to be able to stay n the same room with you ... " he said softly, strking his fingers through her hair. "I want you way to fucking badly to be able to do that..... I scared you off once by rushing...."

Saffron shook her head slightly. "If Mrs. Kitchens says theres another room avalible, then fine, if not, then we'll just have to deal." She said softly.

"And if I can't? " Matt asked softly, one hand slipping down to rest on her backside, "You know how bad I am at resisting temptation...." he added huskily as he stole another kiss.

"Then who am I to complain?" Saffron replied, but slipped away from, turning for the door. "I'll see you later." She said, opening it.

"Love you, babe.." he said softly, fighting the urge to pull her back and keep her with him.

She paused a moment, glancing back at him. "Love you too." SHe answered softly, before pulling the door shut. Taking a breath, she checked her reflection in the mirror in the hall, over her glamor, then headed for the stair case. There was a good amount of noise coming from down stairs, music and laughter.

Matt watched the door close and gave a low graon. "Gods... right back to where I was five months ago... Fucking head over heels for the kid.." he said then smiled softly to himself before glancing ceiling-ward. "thanks." he said, then quickly grabbed the pill bottle off the table and slipped it into the pocket of his jeans and headed for the kitchen to see if he could catch his supper.

Matt was halfway down the back stairs when he felt the young boys ghost. He sighed and turned to see him standing a few steps above him. "Hey kid... there something you want to tell me?" he asked simply. "I know this demon and his buddy have you all scared... but.. you know what I am... So.. tell me what's going on..."

Matt managed to tease bits of information out of the young spirit, each new bit making him more and more eager to be done with the whole business and get Saffron out of there. By the time the ghost vanished, Matt was leaning against the wall, lost in thought, trying to figure out what the hell they were going to do... And wondering if he should go interupt Astor's little get to gether and steal Saffron away to tell her what he'd found out...

Matt slowly made his way down the rest of the stairs where he found Mrs. Kitchens helping the cook. He told her Saffron would like his room locked to keep the other guests out... but didn't ask for a new room. He just couldn't bring himself to allow the opportunity to be close to her pass by... Plus he really didn't wnat her alone in this place..

Matt shocked both Mrs. Kitchens and the cook by asking if he could eat dinner in the kitchen. Then received directions to the chapel. He  debated about asking them about the ghosts but decided against it. Instead he headed off  towards the chapel, a hunch forming that he wanted to check out.

Matt found the chapel easy enough and let himself in. He walked slowly around the room, frowning more and more as he listened to the various spirits that seemed almost to be hiding in here.... mostly near the wll by the door he'd just come in... They seems to be crowding away form the far wall..

Matt stood a few feet away and glared at the wall. Whatever was on the other side, the spirits were not happy to be near... and none would give him a clue as to what it was.. except for the boy... but 'bad place' didnt help much..

Matt was pacing back and forth along the wall, scowling. He was willing to bet on the other side of this wall was the room behind that wooden door... if only he could find that damned key..

Matt looked up as the boy  appeared by the door , then cursed as he ran through the apparition and down the hall.. the boy appearing before him and leading the way. He knew he shouldn't have let SAffron go alone... 'Hurt him, babe... "

 

 

Saffron took her time, approaching the drawing room where the guests were gathering before dinner. Some lingered in the hall chatting, glanced Saffron's way, a couple curious and even leering looks but other wise they continued their own conversations with each other. Saffron entered the drawing room, and right off Lord Ashtor moved toward her. "Wonderful to have you join us...shame your friend couldn't join us..." Lord Ashtor said.

 

Saffron bit back the smirk. "He's...indisposed at the moment..." Saffron answered causually.

 

"Just before you entered, a remarkable...well, INTERESTING fact happened. That lady over there," Lord Ashtor pointed toward an overly dressed woman fanning herself. "Claimed to have seen a hidious creature in the hallway by the gallery."

 

"Is that so?" Saffron replied.

 

"So she claims, and knowing Lady Brickwall, she'll be more then pleased to tell you." Lord Ashtor replied, as a young man, who greatly resembled Lord Ashtor approached them, Saffron well aware of his lingering intense gaze.

 

"Richard, are you trying to scare your guests again?" The young man asked.

 

Lord Ashtor snorted softly. "May I present my younger brother, John."

 

Lord Ashtor left Saffron and John to speak while he went to attend to other guests, though he kept glancing toward Saffron. Saffron on the other hand pointedly ignored all the looks, even the more intense ones from John. "My brother doesn't put much stock in the family ghosts." John said coversationally. "Or the family legends." He added.

 

Saffron looked over at him. "And you do?" She asked softly.

 

"Lets just say...I take an interest in them." John replied.

 

"Indeed. Do you know much about them?" She asked.

 

"Lots." John replied. "I'd liked to hear more." Saffron said softly.

 

John seemed to smile wickedly. "Sat beside me at dinner and I'll be more then happy to indulge you."

 

Saffron smiled casually at him, and resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "What about this creature, the lady saw?" Saffron asked.

 

 John snorted. "Well that goes along with the best family legend."

 

"About de Soulis?" Saffron asked.

 

John nodded, taking a drink from his glass. "They say he praticed so deep in dark magic, that he learned necromancy. Do you know much about necromancy?" John asked.

 

"Only what I've read in books." Saffron replied, smirking a bit.

 

John chuckled. "They say he also managed to gain a demon familiar, a right frightful beast, with a passion for killing and not even the highest druid priests and priestess could with stand the creature. That and he took the children, from the villiage to use in his macrbe past time. Hell, they say he even murdered his own 12 year old son, James. Above that...he was very fond of sinning, his favorite form being anything sexual and perverse in nature."

 

"Isn't that always the case..." Saffron replied softly, that whole thing made her rather nervous.

 

"Yes, well, in those days, I suppose it made things more exciting." John replied, with another wicked smile.

 

Saffron gave him a slight smile in return, not answering. "I was going to ask your brother, I assume you do have a chapel here?" Saffron said.

 

John sighed. "Yes of course...." He paused. "Would you like to see it?"

Saffron rasied an eyebrow. "Yes, I would but-" She was cut off when John took her by the arm, leading her back toward the door.

 

"While I would like to see the chapel, " Saffron said, slightly cold, pulling her arm from John's grasp. "I would have thought it could wait." She added.

 

John gave a sigh. "You don't really want to stand around with the lot of them, do you?" He asked, nodding back to the room. "If you don't wish to see the chapel now, there's quiet a few other places worth seeing. Like the Dungeon..."

 

"You know, "John said, turning to Saffron, they were both alone in the hall. "There's said to be...another chapel in this place..."

 

"Two? Rather unusual for a castle like this." Saffron remarked, watching John wearily. She thought she'd caught a glimspe of some one at the end of the hall, but when she glanced that way, no one was there.

 

John took the chance to step closer. "Yes, very unusual...They say...it's where de Soulis held his...orgies..." John said softly. Saffron took a step back and rolled her eyes, but filed the information.

 

"Fasinating." She replied coldly. "Would you excuse me for a moment." She turned to walk away.

 

"You really, shouldn't wonder around the castle by yourself you know." John had started to follow Saffron.

 

Saffron snorted. "I'll take my chances with the ghosts, thank you." She replied.

 

John suddenly grabbed her arm. "Come on...I know why my brother invited you." He hissed.

 

Saffron looked at him. "Excuse me?"

 

"You're his newest toy..." Saffron froze. "If I were you, I wouldn't finish what ever sentence is on your mind." Saffron hissed darkly, pulling away from John.

 

 

 

 

"Come on! Do you really want to be with him?" John pushed. "I'm not with him, so you can drop that train of thought." Saffron snapped, even more aggravated. "Now if you'll excuse me." John grabbed her arm again, pulling her back and hissed in her ear. "I can see through that glamor..." It wasn't John's voice, and Saffron stared.

 

Matt skidded to a stop as he heard voices and drew his gun before he even meant to. Comnig around the corner he aimed it at the man holding Saffron . "Don;t." he said coldly. "Saff babe... just hurt him."

 

John had looked up toward Matt, before letting go of Saffron slowly, backing away. "There's no need for the gun." He said calmly, sounding like himself again. Saffron stared at him for a moment, before turning and walking toward Matt.

 

"You touch Saffron again and there will be." Matt said simply a she held out a hand for her. "Saffron;s with me.. so hands off."

 

"With you?" John replied, before snorting. Saffron had taken Matt's hand. John eyed them both, before turning and walking back down the hall toward the party. Saffron watched him go, "I think we've got a problem..." She said softly.

 

"Yeah.. several... " Matt said softly, not putting his gun away until the man was gone. "I'm thinking we might have to call for help on this.. and you know how much i hate that shit..."

 

"Yes, hearing that from you, worries me.." Saffron replied, glancing at him. "Do I want to know what you uncovered?" She asked. "As for John there...he said he could see through my glamor..." She said even softer.

 

Saffron sighed. "He added to the legend with de Soulis...he said de Soulis learned necromancy...and had a demon familiar. And that de Soulis killed his own 12 year old son...He also said there was another...chapel...where de Soulis did all his...work." She said softly.

 

Matt snorted. "fuck... there's the pieces. The ghosts are terrified... and that only happens with demons and necros... bingo on the creature and the ghost who knocked me ..." he groaned softly. "And i'm willing to bet thats the room..."

 

Saffron sighed. "Where you able to ask the boy about the key?" She asked softly, "It still doesn't explain the recent killings though.' She added.

 

Matt snorted. "no... got distracted...No sign of your locket though... which makes me think its either in one of the bedrooms or .. in 'there'.... Those are the only places the ghosts wont look."

 

Saffron sighed. "I guess maybe we should call in help on this." She said softly. Then looked up as the lights in the hall flickered. Only to go out a moment, puncated by screams from the dinning room. "Fucking hell!" Saffron snapped. "If it wasn't for the fact that there's so many people here, I'd say fuck it and leave." Lord Ashtor could be heard trying to calm his party down.

 

"I'm tempted anyhow.... " Matt snorted in reply as they took of at a run. He had his gun back in his hand, tempted to draw the machete as well. "We cna't let anyone else die, Saff.. and not just cause it's not nice." he said. "James said it would be very very bad....."

 

"Killed by his own father...I hate to imagine why..." Saffron replied, shaking her head. She skidded to a hault in the door way to the dinning room, there were candles lit, but a few women were in hysterics and pointing at the far corner. John was no where to be seen. Saffron started to shove her way through, to see what was in the corner, but there was a terrible scream from the second floor.

 

"Kitchens... fuck i asked her to lock your room." Matt growled. "Swords, angel...I'll go play hero... you keep everyone else in here..." he said, stole a quick kiss then took off out the door.

 

Saffron watched him leave, before summoning her swords, ignoring the gasps and frightened looks from the people around her. Out side a storm had started to rage and Saffron couldn't think of anything more cliche. She shoved her way through the crowd and came to a stop, seeing what was in the corner. The bloody body of John lay near the window, Lord Ashtor was just covering him with a table cloth. "What the hell happened?!" Saffron demanded. Lord Ashtor looked at her. "When the power went out, I heard him scream, something about 'its here, lord help me, I'm sorry,' When we lit the candles..." Lord Ashtor trailed off.

 

Matt flew up the stairs and cursed as he saw the door to Saffrons room standing open. As he passed his own room, Saffron;s door suddenly slammed shut. Matt skidded to a halt and grabbe dthe knob, but it refused to budge. Slamming his shoulder against the door didn't help any better than it had in the tunnel. "Fuck!: he swore. He could hear whimpering and sobbing fomr inside the room so he knew she was still alive at least...

 

"Does the castle have any back up power?" Saffron asked. "None." Lord Ashtor replied. "Then we're fucked..." She muttered, she glanced toward the ceiling. "Alright, listen to me, Richard, keep everyone in this room, until I come back. Under no circumstances, let any one leave." Saffron added, heading for the door and into the hall. She'd almost made it to the stairs, when a small voice spoke. "Don't go up there! He just wants you to come up there." Saffron turned, seeing James hiding behind a statue. "Why?" Saffron asked. The boy didn't answer, Saffron tried another approach. "Why is he killing, James?" "He wants out...Don't go up there...he'll stop for the night soon..." with that, the boy disappeared.

 

Mat hauled off and gave the door another kick. The door rattled in its frame but showed no signs of opening. There was no sound form within the room... the sobs and whimpers having quieted  a few kicks ago. He was tempted to try shooting the lock.. but was afraid of hitting Kitchens...

 

Saffron stared at the spot James had been, still holding her swords. Shaking her head, she turned and started up the grand stairs, yet something told her to head James warning, she stopped half way up the stair case. "Matt!" She called.

 

Matt gave a final curse as he heard Saffron yell for him and turned, heading towasrd the sound of her voice. He stopped at the top of the stairs and looked donw at her. "She's in your room....I can't get in." he said simply, his voice a touch defeated. "I can't hear her anymore... but I don;t think she's dead.. I can't feel her spirit yet anyhow..."

 

Saffron swore, shaking her head, before lookign up at him. "John however, is dead. In the corner of the dinning room, when the power failed." She said. "He's quiet bloody..." She added wearily. "So it left the bedroom, to kill in a room full of people. Ashtor said something about John screaming, 'Its here, Lord help me and I'm sorry..'. Then James stopped me from coming up stairs."

 

"john the bastard i had at gun point?" Matt asked as he started down the stairs towards her. "I don;t think it was just him... think our buddy de Soulis was taking a ride... " he muttered softly. "Bastard probably made some sort of deal with him. I bet if you ask Astor about who'd idea tonight's little get to gether was.. he'll say John...."

 

"With the power out, there's no back up power, no way to call for help and no way to get these people out." Saffron replied, shaking her head. "I asked James why he was killing...James' reply, was he wants out..."

 

"De Soulis wasn't a necormancer like me.... he wasn't born to it. He had to learn it. Sell his soul for power kind of deal, usually..." Matt said, his gaze going back up the stairs towards the bedroom as he slipped an arm around SAffron;s waist. "Legend or myth...or fairytale, depending on who you ask... is that a powerful necromancer could live forever... by bringing himself back form the dead. Of course... no one is helpful enough to explain how, except that there's an exchange of lives...."

 

"Then that would explain the killings...to a point." Saffron said softly with a sigh. "The question is, is he doing the killings, or is it his demon familiar..." She looked back toward the dinning room. Out side the storm was still raging. "And why now? Unless this isn't the first time he's tried this..."

 

Matt snorted. "In all this time? No... chances are he's tried before. And i'm willing to bet its his familiar doing the dirty work.. thats what they're for after all. " he said than sighed. "You coud try opening a portal to the London Office...." Matt suggested softly.

 

"Anything's worth a try..." Saffron replied softly, but wearily. She took a breath, and attempted to open a shadow portal back to the London Office. It'd had just started to form, when something gave her a rough shove, breaking her concentration.