Little information

[Lovely]

July 2, 2006
early morning
Tarka's room at the Montgomery Inn


"Mornin'," he smiled. If Tarka was paying attention, he'd remember that in and of itself was unusual. "Of course you're grumpy.. being a legend must be so draining. Drink?" He held up an unopened pouch fresh from the donor center he'd stopped at on the way to speak with Tarka.

He looked up from the chair he was slumped in and his brow furrowed. "Morning.." He spoke slowly and gave Trent a curious gaze. "You... feeling alright?"

"Fine. Why?" He tossed the pouch in his lap and leaned against the wall. He folded his arms and returned the gaze. "What?"

"You're smiling and saying good morning.. have you hit your head?" His eyes ran over Trent in closer inspection and his head tipped to the side. "..and your color is.. better.. you actually have some color.. very odd... very odd indeed."

He untucked a hand and inspected it, front and back then shrugged as he retucked it and grinned. "So I had a late dinner... that's not so odd. I've been up all night doing... research."

He beckoned him further into the room and motioned him to have a seat. "Close the door behind you... so have I.. what lovely bit of information have you brought me?"

"Um... that's about it," Trent said, pointing to the pack he'd tossed him as he closed the door and sat down across from him "No new slag, well not really. Not enough left to work with. Um... I was kinda hoping you might be able to tell me. Seems there's been some growing concern about bodies showing up without much body left. No organs, no tissue, just bones."

Tarka forced a sigh. colsing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose. "Yes.. piles of bone.. no flesh left on them... I've gotten those reports, had a few bone samples sent over, as well. It appears there is a new demon in town. This one does not discriminate.. the victims have been human, werewolf, various demons.. and even a vamp or two from the looks of it.."

He cleared his throat at the commentary, not realizing he'd done so and shifted a bit nervously, stretching out along the back of the chair he sat in. "Yeah... that...strange thing, Tarka. Not your run-of-the-mill torturing-flaying-blood sucking-mortal wound kinda slayings," he said, cautiously watching the man. He knew what he knew, not sure if Tarka had come to the same conclusion.

"The body count is racking up quickly.. multiple victims per night.." His eyes lifted up and he watched the way Trent was watching him. "Is there something you'd like to share, old friend?"

"Me? No, not really," he said with a tilt of his head, tracing absent patterns on the back of the chair. The texture of the fabric slowly registered under his fingertip and he stopped, patting the cushion in a moment of indecision before curling up a little to lean forward on his knees. "Let me ask you something, though."

Trent was acting... strangely... "Alright.. ask." He spoke softly, shifting in his chair and regarding the man.

[Lovely]

He worked the words around his mouth silently at first before letting them fall out to be heard, fairly certain he knew what the response would be already. "This... demon... say you found it... them... what's your plan? What would you do with it?"

He grunted and chuckled, shaking his head. "I'd do.. my 'job'.. do what I always do... I'd hunt it down and slaughter it."

His tongue continued to work at words he held back, pushing at his jaw as he bounced a heel under his knee. Trent glanced up and winced gently, "What if I asked you not to?"

His eyes narrowed, slightly and his piercing gaze settled on Trent. "Why would you ask me not to? This thing is killing people... possibly right now while we're sitting here. It's killed in the light of day.. this is not a run of the mill kinda creature.. it kills without thought of who or what... there is no discression.. at least none that I can find.. except that all the victims.. were males."

His eyebrows raised high and he sighed out slowly. "Males... guess we taste better?" He shrugged gently then folded tighter into a troubled ball. "There is... some.. discression," he added, letting his gaze focus slowly on Tarka.

His lips pursed and his gaze narrowed a bit more. "There is.. care to tell me how you know this and what it is you know? What sort of discression?"

"I'm still here," he said flatly. "So is Gil.. and I wish there was more I could tell you, but... I honestly don't know."

"What the hell does that mean? If this thing had come close to killing you or Gil.. well.. lets just say I wouldn't rest until it was destroyed."

"Don't worry about it," he said softly, sitting back finally. "I mean about it getting me or Gil."

"I have to worry about that.. I have no garauntee that it would not come across you and leave a pile of bones behind." He folded his hands, with laced fingers, arms resting over his knees.

"He made her promise," he muttered. He looked back up at Tarka. "Sh... um.. it won't... believe me. I'm fine... did I mention I'm fine?"

His face hardened a bit and his eyes moved slowly over Trent. "You know.." He whispered. "You know.. what it is.. a she?" His jaw worked a moment and then he spoke, softly. "I can see you are fine.. why are you fine? Who made her promise.. what did she promise? I'm missing alot of details, here.."

"Gil... and yes.. 'she'... promised not to eat me," he said, not certain he should have even started to say anything. "I can't watch her all the time... and she's... um...," his brow wrinkled again, partly in embarrassment and amusement combined with concern. "Insatiable?"

"Gil?.." He chuckled, softly. "Damnit.. I knew you were acting strange." A faint smile came to his face. "While I am happy that you have found a girl... how long has it been? Insatiable or not.. she can't be killing like this."

[Lovely]

"It's not like that," he smiled. He would have likely blushed if he had enough blood flowing through his system to manage it. The expression was enough to drive that point, however. "I can only watch over her when I can keep her inside or during night. Problem is, she can slip past me any time she wants. I haven't found a ward that keeps her... well, keeps her where I want her. I know that sounds bad, but, I can't be someone's guardian or teacher if they don't stick around."

"Well.. then you see the problem.. If you can't keep her from killing.. or train her not to.. then someone else will have to put a stop to it." His voice was cold, business like, but his face held a slightly pained expression.. he did not wish to cause Trent any pain, but he would kill this creature, if he had to.

"Only when it's convenient," he chuckled, going over his first conversation with her. "Only doing what demons do, she said. I'll see what I can do, but I do ask you, if you happen to come across her, not to kill her. Not yet, anyway."

"I wish.. I can not make you that promise. Should we cross.. especially if she is.. " His fist clenched and his eyes closed. "I'll try to keep an open mind.. That's all I can promise."

"Especially if she's what? She's a demon, make no mistake, but... she's been under Gil's care. She's learning, Tarka."

"She's learning? What is she learning? The best method of bone cleaning?" His eyes opened and he stared at Trent. "She's under Gil's care? Since when? Why? Could someone please tell me something useful about this creature?"

"Ask Gil," he shrugged. "I honestly don't know, Tarka. Other than... she's a fabulous housekeeper, concerned whether I feed or not. She's fiercely protective over Gil. I doubt her demonic purpose was meant to be a watchdog, though... or a nanny. He said she's here because she needs balance, if that means anything."

"Ask Gil.." He sighed, "sure.. you know when he's coming to town again?" Tarka leaned back again, he regarded Trent for a long moment. "He hasn't told you much about her, has he? Why would he let something like that loose here? Balance.. I don't understand how this killing spree is giving her balance.. do you?"

"Who knows when he comes to town? He left her in my care, said very little else other than to show her a good time, out on the town. No, I don't think he meant to 'have' the town. I do know he'd have issues with her being killed."

"Everyone has issues." He said quietly, rubbing his temples lightly. "Unless a reason that out weighs the damages she's done.. or I can be promised.. ensured that without a doubt she will not be killing freely and openly like this.. I have no choice but to eliminate the problem."

"I said I'll see what I can do," he murmured defensively in a darker and more protective tone than Tarka may have heard. "You know how I feel about killing. But if I'm dead asleep, there's little I can do. Maybe... if you happen to know a ward to keep a shadow walker from slipping out unseen or ... slipping out at all... that might help?"

[Lovely]

"Shadow walker?" He leaned forward, his attention keenly held again, the words as well as the darker protective tone Trent had used, were caught. "Shadow walker who kills.. only males it seems and leaves only a pile of bones behind... hmm.. sound like any one.. I'd know? Perhaps.. someone who might know a ward to hold another similar creature?" He puffed a bit, thinking and then nodding. "I will consult.. Phae.. but until then..." He stood moving to his cabinent and murmuring as he mixed powders, after some time he returned to Trent and handed him the mixture and a small scroll. "I am not positive if it will keep her from passing into the shadows.. but you will definately know if she attempts to, at least."

He nodded and slowly reached for the scroll. "This won't hurt her, will it? I mean... I know I know... the killing, but... I'm looking for more of the rolled-up-newspaper-swat on the nose-no cookie kind of ward, not something that's going to blow up the place... or damage anything in my place..."

"She won't be seriously harmed by this.. if at all, it will be a mere swat on the nose.. like you want.. to keep her from slipping off on you."

His fingers curled around the scroll and the other hand pocketed the powder. "Better get this back to town before it gets any lighter out. Thank you... for understanding."

"I'm not sure.. I do.. maybe.. Phae can help.. she may understand more about.. someone who is.. like her." He spoke slowly, his brow furrowing as he paced a bit. "Take care Trent.. if she is like Phae.. I mean, I was different to Phae than others.. you understand."

A crooked grin bared a single sharp tooth as he nodded. "Yeah, I think I do. Balance, Tarka, believe me. I think it's working out more than it seems. If I said 'equal and opposite' would that make sense? Life from death, energy... nevermind, I doubt that makes sense."

"Maybe..." He cast over Trent's face and he nodded. "I.. hope it works." It had taken Trent so long to find some.. was he happy? He seemed more so than Tarka could remember him being.

"We'll find out," he sighed. He didn't like the idea of putting a leash of sorts on her, but until he could find a way to keep her hunger saited, he'd have to take whatever means necessary, for her own safety, and the sanity of the homicide division.

Tarka nodded again and spoke, though he looked distant. "I'll speak to Phae.. see if she has any ideas, there's a good chance she may know things we do not about a matter like this."

"See you later then," he nodded, holding up the scroll in a wave as he pulled the door open. "Give her my regards."

"I will."