ALEXiThymiA: Interlude I: The Crime Scene

Interlude I

The Crime Scene

Rayna Johnston, the Tri-State investigative lead was first called to the out of the way woods at just past 3:13 AM, after a full manhunt for a rogue werewolf serial killer had been dispatched.

Tracking down the serial killer was a little easier than expected. When one of the two main virals, species that predominantly expand their kind through sharing either the Vampyre or Lykanthropy virus, a special task squad is called. This special task squad consists of at least one dhampyre, a half-human half-Vampyre and a Progenitor Werewolf. The team then had lab techs, field coordinators, and in this case, a fully awakened lead.

By the time Rayna got to the body, her two experts were already in place examining the body. Bullford, the Progenitor was already sniffing the air. He was one of the first to be exposed to the Lyknathropy virus, but rather than succumbing to the wolf spirit, he conquered it, never letting the wolf gain any ground within his psyche. This was the mark of a true Progenitor versus one who was just a turned. In this case Bullford controlled the wolf, not the other way around.

Thus, while seeing a grown man actively sniffing the air would be disconcerting for most, for Rayna it oddly let her mind relax. As this sniffing meant that Bullford was already engaged and doing what he should.

Fletcher, the dhampyre specialist, was also already down conducting his own investigation into what was happening.

“Details.” Rayna shouted.

With that the two specialist and all lab techs who were already in the area cordoning off the area, jumped to attention, and dropped what they were doing.

Bullford was the first to speak. “Same scent trail as our attacker. We think our attacker came out here looking for a meal. From the scent trails, a powerful being sat here for a few hours straight. It is likely that the suspect thought this person would be an easy target. Their position near the base of the tree suggests that they were asleep, or at least very still for a number of hours. There is also the pungent smell of highly concentrated mana in the air.”

Rayna nodded at this, “could the mana have anything to deal with the wolf?”

Bullford paused as he made a separate sniff over the corpse. “Unlikely, the scent of mana from the killer is that of an enhancement type. The scent of mana I am getting from where the victim sat is more.”

“More?”

Bullford nodded, “just more. I can’t quite explain it. If I had to guess it would seem that the victim was in the process of consuming multiple augmentation crystals all at once.”

Rayna cocked her head to the side. “You think the victim would have taken multiple crystals all at once, out here? Versus in a room with a paid technical specialist on hand?”

“Look, I am just telling you my interpretations of the smells I am finding.” Bullford answered defensively.

“I happen to agree with the oaf’s interpretation. I managed to find two distinct blood trails.” Fletcher began, his sophisticated European accent filtering into his voice. Part of his assignment to the hunting cell was that no one ask of his origins. Given his results, Rayna was not willing to go back on that promise, though sometimes she wondered.

“There were two highly concentrated mana signatures. You will find that both are female, but while the werewolf was slowly starved to death, as its body consumed itself to convert its tissue into mana. The second one, the victim, was also a female with a rather large concentration of mana within their body.”

With that Fletcher paused, as he let that sink in. Rayna had dealt with Fletcher long enough to know when he needed a little prodding to continue.

“There’s more?” Rayna asked.

Fletcher nodded, “there is. I’d have to say that given the battle layout and the number of endorphins released in the blood stream, that this victim was either a battle junkie or a sociopath.”

This was new, “explain.”

Was the one-word response Rayna gave.

With that Fletcher nodded, “As you can see the battle lasted quite a long time. We see multiple instances of where the victim, stood right there, and swatted away multiple attacks by the crazed lupine. The fact that they let the battle go on for so long, despite having the ability to clearly end it with a single power indicates that they are likely sadistic in some way.”

With that Rayna looked at the crime scene, truly looked. Then after having the obvious indications pointed out, she paused. Fletcher was right, this wasn’t a battle, not in the traditional sense of the word. Then she looked to the large wolf that was clearly emaciated if you knew what to look for. This victim had toyed with the crazed wolf. While that wasn’t necessarily a crime, she was clearly defending herself from multiple attacks. The fact that she could have easily ended the fight at any time, indicated a level of sadism that was clearly concerning.

“We need to find this victim.” Bullford said.

“Yes, we need to bring them in for questioning.” Rayna agreed.

“No, not just that. The fact that they were wounded by a recently turned lupine, and their level of strength and power…” Bullworth began but was cut off by Fletcher.

“Along with their sadistic tendencies…” Fletcher added.

“Along with their sadistic tendencies means that when they turn, they will likely be a far more dangerous killer than the one who turned her.” Bullworth added.

“So, there is no chance that since she killed the master, she will be free of the curse?” Mickelson, an unpaid intern asked.

At that, the three just turned to the intern and glared.

“No, that is not how viruses work.” Rayna stated coldly. “These are very dangerous viruses, ones that can be transferred by many different methods, the easiest of which is blood to blood contact. Or by an infected lupine directly touching the blood of a victim with either tooth or claw.” Rayna said, having recited the manual on ways the different viruses could be transferred. To be honest she too couldn’t understand how Lykanthropy could be spread through teeth and claws, while Vampyrism could only be spread through teeth. Apparently, the conjecture was that the way the two viruses worked within the body affected their delivery mechanisms.

There were also minor mana aspects that had to be taken into account with the two different viruses. Vampyrism was more of a chaotic-dark aligned virus. While Lykantrhopy was more of a a chaotic-nature attuned virus. These minor differences in mana usage also played a key role in how the two different species were separated, and they were different species, at least according to the Magical Acceptance Act of 2025. Should anyone ask, Rayna was more than ready to spread all the documentation needed to prove she was up to date with her training, and team cohesion methods.

“So, tell me what we know of this soon to be turned werewolf candidate.” Rayna began.

“She is young, highly emotional, with long dark hair.” Bullworth said, holding up something in the dark that Rayna had to guess was a strand of hair.

“She is young, given her exposure to mana and her level of power, I would think she is already in her twenties.” Fletcher added.

Twenties in this case, referred to the class level.

“Class type?” Rayna added, quickly sketching these details down.

At that both Fletcher and Bullworth shrugged. “She could be a hybrid type. At first, I thought she was a pure brawler class, but then the use of magic at the end suggests either a mage hybrid or maybe a mage fighter class.” Bullworth said.

“So, we are looking for a level twenty-something female, with long black hair, a mage fighter or hybrid type class, with a werewolf slash, anything else?” Rayna asked.

“She is tall, well six foot two inches, if I had to guess.” Fletcher said, standing near the center of the fighting area. It was clear he was standing right where the victim stood.

“Any chance that the power was used by someone who happened to come across the two? They were fighting for over an hour, right?” Rayna asked.

“That is possible, but highly unlikely. There are no signs that anyone else came.” Fletcher spoke first.

“Also, the smell is the same as that of the victim.” Bullworth added

Right, Bullworth had an enhanced sense of smell that let him associate different spells used to the mana signature of people.

With that, Rayna’s hopes that there wasn’t a soon to be sadistic six-foot two twenty-something awakened mage hybrid killer werewolf on the loose were dashed.

“I’ll call this in. Please let me know if you find anything else. Any other details.” Rayna said, holding up her data pad and realizing she would have to move more than a mile to get reception.

“On it.” The two experts began.

With that, the rest of the field supporters and interns went about documenting impact sights with flags. Along with blood drops on the ground. Then with the blood documented, samples were taken. Samples that would no doubt prove Fletcher’s field findings to be correct.

Looking at her data pad, Rayna realized it was already 5:22, and the sun would soon be rising to reveal what the rest of her Monday had in store. Hopefully they could find this potential psycho-werewolf before she turned.

“Gods I hate Mondays.”