Mafia!; Blood and Games | Prologue | Rough Draft (Patreon)

A file slid itself across a desk, slowing to a halt an inch away from a man sitting behind it, dressed in a dark coat. The gruff-looking guy looked up with only one eye open, revealing to whoever threw the document that the other was scarred shut. “I need you on a case.”, was all the stranger said, cloaked in darkness and speckled black dust from head to toe as the light of the lamp behind the cyclops couldn’t reach them. “Who doesn’t…”, the man grumbled to himself, sitting up straight from his more relaxed position to get a proper look at the stack of paper thrown his way. The investigator was a Praesegen, a demonic species known for their instinctual protection and unique reflective powers. Each of these demon types could block any sort of spell cast upon them, and fling it right back like a taste of the caster’s own medicine. He seemed to be the more common green-skinned stype, coupled with long hair that they were usually known for, and, of course, those iconic, backwards-bent and curled up horns. His tired face was half-covered in scraggly, blonde stubble, adding further to his unpleasant appearance, and his sagged-in eyes were no different. Suddenly, his only eye, the one on his right, flicked up at the tall stranger, as it glowed a bright yellow against the dark purple of his sclera. “What is all this?”, he asked, clearly unimpressed with the evidence given. “Everything you need.”, they replied. “Do we have a deal?” The green one scoffed, and the twitch of his scruffy lip implied a smile. “I don’t just take any case, you gotta tell me the details. I’m gonna need more than just pictures of a gathering and some receipts.” The client moved closer. “No, no, no, sir. That’s only what you see on the surface...”, they began, partially gloved hand reaching out to separate one particular picture from the bunch. As it slid across the table, the lamp revealed the colour of their dark pink skin. “...For this assignment, you must look closer.” Squinting one of his eyes, he leaned forward to further observe the picture laid out for him. He still couldn’t see anything wrong with it. It was simply a large group of people, all posing for a photo with the edge of one of the islands he resided within behind them, and… The man’s eye widened as it finally focused on something in the corner of the picture. A blurry… thing near the shore, with a dark red something stained across its mouth. “What is this?”, he asked, bringing the picture closer to his face as he inspected the poor quality of the printed image. “A Welk Isles Siren.”, they responded, taking a few more out from the stack they’d given the detective. “Just a siren?”, he inquired, tone now slightly less urgent as he examined them one by one. “Those things only kill stupid people who get too close to the coast… Yeah, they’re all near water.” He put one of the photos down before folding his arms. “What do you want me to investigate? Those things are uncontrollable.” The stranger gave out an annoyed huff. “They’re not just killing stupid people! Look.” The Praesegen looked down at another printed out photo demonstrated to him, observing the vastly poorer quality of a brightened up image. He squinted again to try and find something, but couldn’t make out anything. “This just looks like someone’s wine cellar.” Once again, their dark magenta hand came into the light and pointed at a pattern near the floor. “And what about this, sir?” He paused while focusing completely on the strange pattern being pointed at. Could it be a net? Perhaps a flannel blanket? No… The man gasped in shock as he came to a realization. It was the scales of a siren’s mermaid-like tail. “Is that one INSIDE someone’s house??”, he exclaimed. Sirens were forbidden on land, let alone inside someone’s home. “Not just any house.” The stranger showed the investigator a third picture, featuring a lavish, multiple-story building near the coast with a big, fancy sign that labeled the place. “Kiiru Killa’s Murder Mystery Mansion?”, he read aloud. “What?”

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