A masked figure with an oni mask sits patiently before a group of masked figures moving about before a pentagram. The group finishes drawing as two guards drag a limp, handsome man. The unconscious man moans as they carelessly drop him onto the floor before him.

The guards retreat as the masked figures carefully place him in the center of the pentagram and slit his outstretched wrists. The young man groans and does not awaken as the circling figures begin to chant in an ancient language, “S Mortendum tmar vito U scrifus, tmar vito Y daros vito!”

The blood flows out of the young man’s body tracing the pentagram on the floor. The lines begin to glow a ghostly red as the blood surges completely out of the man’s body and gathers before him to create a crimson moving figure. The body stops breathing releasing a faint puff of air as the liquid figure breathes it in. The liquid suddenly bolts down the body’s throat as the body jerks as the blood returns.

The cuts on the body are gone as the pentagram glow fades. The figures are silent as the body suddenly opens its brown eyes. The figure sits up and tilts his head side to side until an audible pop is heard. “Ah, much better,” the young man said.

The oni masked figure softly asks, “Well, what went wrong?”

The man sheepishly shrugs and says, “It all went to hell once those sniffers showed up.”

“Sniffers?”

“The investigation unit, sorry, sir.”

The oni masked elder taps his fingers against his chair and sighs. As the man cheerfully stretches his new body. “Douglas, you will remain at headquarters until further notice,” the oni masked figure firmly ordered.

Douglas nods sagely and replies, “Yes, sire. But if I may request my reward, once everything has died down may I be permitted to visit my dear younger sister. It’s been so very long since I last saw her and unfortunately our latest visit was much to short.”

The oni masked figure is silent for a long time before reluctantly answering, “We shall see. Your behavior was a trifle unruly this time around. Show me how well behaved you can be and we shall speak of the subject again.”

Douglas nods gaily as he sighs happily, “Yes, sire. I will endeavor to be on my best behavior.”

The oni masked figure nods as he dismisses the young man being led away by the group of masked figures. The oni masked figure frowns a bit distastefully behind his mask at the pentagrams, but needs must be met.

*

Liaison Gauthier returns to study the corpse of the assailant. With care, he calls the spirit of the dead, but nothing responds. Once more he tries as the stuffed duck chirps, “Master, he’s not dead anymore.”

Liaison Gauthier pauses and turns towards the duck. “How?” He asked as the duck shrugs and replies, “Beats me, I just know. He’s back.”

The hairs on the back of his neck stand on edge as Liaison Gauthier considers the ramifications. With trembling limbs, he gathers the duck and rushes to inform Barclay. Hopefully, it was merely an accident, but he had the feeling that they had yet to finish meeting their butcher.