“Deacon stop!”, Jacob said moving between him and the trapped monster, “Let us handle this. I need you to go find Ralph. He was fighting off one of these things back near the sitting room. Ralph is the only one with his weapon and might need backup.”

“This piece of shit is the reason Armand…” Deacon trailed off to turn around and look at Armand.

“What is it?” Jacob asked.

“No soul. I don’t see Armand’s soul.”, Deacon said as he rushed across the room, “Zageracks we didn’t… I mean I didn’t automatically.”

“No. He hasn’t been consumed.” Zageracks spoke to his mind.

“His soul isn’t here. Maybe we should get him to the temple of Astrael. Hang on.” Deacon said as he went to pull the limp arm out of Armand’s chest. Just before touching it he remembered he had one of those sun blossoms in his bag. He retrieved it and the arm started to disintegrate like ash floating up from a bonfire. Just then Eobard crawled out from behind the couch he was hiding behind. Standing up he straightened his clothes and pointed a finger at Deacon.

“This is all his fault. I saw him humiliating Rolento the other night before he went on some demons rampage. You brought this insanity to our home and got my brother killed.” Eobard said.

“It was you in the watchers box at the arena, wasn’t it? I get that you are grieving right now so I’m going to let that slide.” Deacon replied getting to his feet.

“Eobard, perhaps you should go find your father and the other nobles. No doubt they’ll need your help, the sounds of fighting can still be heard outside.” Interrupted Verus putting his arm around Eobard and walking him toward the exit the rest of the nobility took. Just then Ralph came sprinting into the room with his sword drawn looking battered and bloody.

“Deacon! You’re going to want to see this. Oh no.” Ralph said as he noticed Armand’s prone form.

“Did the eldest Desentes just admit to attending a circle gathering?” Mr. Clean asked.

“That information doesn’t leave this room.” Verus replied as he re-entered the room.

“He isn’t answering my questions. I believe we’ll have to use alternative means of coercion.” Hollard Jacob from the far side of the room.

“Ralph, what is it you want me to see.” Deacon asked standing up from Armand’s body after laying him carefully on the couch.

“I’ve got that thing trapped. I think it’s the one from the other night with the kids.” Ralph replied.

“Let’s go. I trust you all can handle this.” Deacon asked as Verus made his way over to Rolento with glowing runes lighting up around his hand.

“I do apologize but my presence is needed back at my guild. I will try to take as many of these things out as I can along the way. You should all hurry, I can hear screaming from the town. I have sent agents to the other respective guilds as a call to arms. I have a bad feeling this is the opening gambit.” Mr. Clean proclaimed as he sprouted orange fur covered, bat wings from his tunic and went right out the window.

“Awesome exits notwithstanding, Show me.” Deacon said to Ralph.

They walked back down the corridor to an array of blood splatters and corpses. Guards and Sanguine Vessels strew about. Deacon wondered how much of this mess was from that strange power Jacob used. He’d have to ask him about it later. They came up on the sitting room after Deacon had given him the cliff notes of what happened in the dining hall.

“This one burst into the room not five minutes after all of you had left. Thank the Gods it was only one or I’d have been a goner.” Ralph said. It looked like he had it pinned between the bar and one of the bookcase. Several other pieces of furniture were pilled up on the bookcase to keep it in place.

“I stabbed it numerous times, but it won’t die.” Ralph said keeping his eye on the creature.

“What makes you think it’s the same one. I’ve seen at least half a dozen of these things tonight.” Deacon asked.

“You see his leg, that’s where you slashed it that night. I remember it clearly from when it jumped down the hole.

“The head.” Deacon said.

“What?” Ralph replied.

“We found out their heads are their weak point. Elle managed to shoot a bunch in the head, and they stopped moving. But not this one, the guild masters wanted to question the one I iced to the wall. No this one is mine.” Deacon said as he approached the Vessel. Green light started to emanate from his right palm. The creature struggling against the weight of the accumulated furniture. Deacon then switched his title to the newly acquired Blood River.

“You know my mentor, one of my mentors, told me that I don’t express enough creativity with my abilities. Now is probably a very good time to test that, you see I normally create a regular Ice Sickle and fling it at my opponents. This time I’m going to make several very small ones in the palm of my hand and spin them incredibly fast. You hear that soft whrrr?” Deacon spoke as blood fountained out of the trapped creatures arm. It wasn’t until Ralph pulled him away that he noticed he’d removed both of the creatures arms and it was trying to inch toward the door.

“What the hell is wrong with you?!” Ralph said as he skewered the monster through the head.

“I was trying to…I’m not sure what I was trying to do.” Deacon said with a look of bewilderment on his face.

Quest Update- Lost Boy- Help save the pick pocket children from a monster that is trying to kill them. Kill the Monster. Successful completion will grant a new Nether Monk ability. Complete.

New Ability- Polterheist- Within your aura you can manipulate objects without touching them. The weight limit is half your level rounded down in pounds. No cost.

“We need to get you out of here. That was some dark shit.” Ralph said.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know what came over me.” Deacon said as he was dragged by the arm from the room. He couldn’t even enjoy the quest complete notification he got. What the hell was that? He’d have to ask Cheshire later.

“Did you get a quest notification after I killed it?” Ralph asked.

“Yes. Get anything good?” Deacon replied as they walked down the corridor back to the Dining Hall.

“Just another level. That’s two since I met you. If I didn’t see you just dismember a monster with a huge grin on your face, I’d say you were a good luck charm.” Ralph said just as they heard a shriek from the dinning hall that sounded like Elle and a string of expletives that could only come from Typhus.

Deacon and Ralph ran into the room expecting another fight only to see Armand standing and coughing. Elle was horrified and Typhus was holding a chair out in front of him. Jacob was standing on the table hands balled up in fists while Verus stopped chanting for whatever ritual he had drawn around Rolento in the wall. Deacon ran forward and grabbed Armand by the shoulders looking into his eyes. Armand’s legs were wobbly, and he ended up falling back into the couch.

“Easy, easy. How?” Deacon asked.

“She said to tell you tax refund.” Armand got out before another coughing fit overtook him.