Suspicious

She kept herself near the back of her group. If one of them were to try and kill someone, she would see it and stop them in their tracks. She gave the once over again to everyone in her group. In front of her walked Killian, a man she barely knew but had decided could be trouble. Rio, who was fairly quiet and she had no idea what to make of him. And then Delilah, she had her hair down and didn't seem to mind that someone in her group could be out to kill everyone. They were all heading to the bedrooms, to see what they could find. The plan laid out by Skulduggery was fairly simple, as most good plans were. They were searching the bedrooms for anything unusual, mainly what could have caused what happened to Erskine, whilst Ravens group was upstairs looking for anything they could use to get out whilst also counting how many sigils there were. She had learned everything about Erskine from her father, Dexter Vex. When sitting her down to tell her what happened to the dead men one frosty afternoon, his eyes told the whole story, no need for words. His eyes had showed betrayal, loss, anger and deep down, a sense of longing. Longing to see the friends he had lost so unfairly. Erskines plan to rule over the mortals had cost both Anton Shudder and Ghastly Bespoke their lives. None of the remaining dead men had forgiven him, and she didn't blame them, she instantly hated him. She had the stories about Shudder and Bespoke. Brave stories. Sad stories. Heroic stories. She had wanted to meet them so badly, men who had gained her fathers respect. She was robbed of the chance, she felt a little selfish that she hated Ravel partly because she could never met these men. But she mainly hated him because of his actions all told.

She shook her head clear and focused on the issue at hand. Who, if any of them, of her compatriots seemed to her to be the murderer? The fact that she barely knew the majority of these people was both a pro and a con. The pro was that there would be no sting of betrayal when they were revealed or killed. The con however meant she didn't know any of them well enough to cast judgement or be weary of any of them. So she was weary of all of them. Some of the people here she was only meeting for the first time. Her gaze settled on the first bedroom door just beyond her groups head as they arrived on the first floor.

"How do you want to do this?" Killian asked, turning and surveying them all. "Spilt into two groups? Or cram all four of us one room?"

She shook her head the moment he said split but waited until he was done talking. "No chance in hell. We were told to stay together. As a group of four"

Killian chuckled, not even trying to hide his smile.

"What's so funny?" she asked, feeling her anger rise but didn't let it show.

"You are indeed like your dad, regurgitating everything the skeleton says like it's the law. I only suggested splitting up to cover more ground"

"Or split us up to kill us"

Killian strode right up to her so she could smell that he hadn't brushed his teeth that morning. "How dare you! You don't even know me! We all know that the killer is that psychopath Avelija upstairs, even you! She could have killed everyone up there already!"

"There is no evidence to support that, that's why we are up here. To find some and the first room we are searching is hers"

"And if we don't find anything?"

"Then... I don't know"

Killian laughed once again, his voice a tone of dislike and something a little more twisted, maybe jealousy of her heritage, or something else. "Nothing like your dear old daddy then"

Mendacious punched him before she had even thought about it. He stumbled back and held his jaw. "You call that a punch?" He stepped in and swung a left, she went to block but the feint showed itself and he let his fist pass her before bending his arm and lashing an elbow into the back of her head. Her vision wobbled and she took a step back to make sure she didn't fall.

"Stop! Both of you!" Shouted Delilah. She wore an expression of worry as she looked between the pair of them. Mendacious didn't pause to respond to her, instead she turned and glared at Killian, who wore a cocky smirk. She walked calmly right up to him whilst his eyes said bring it on. She feinted a kick before smashing her head forward. Rewarded with the crunch of his nose, the sound of blood hitting the floor, and his howl of pain. He held his nose and his glare turned to one of daggers. He pounced forward and she caught him in the jaw with her forearm. He feel back so she stepped forward and continued her attack. She kicked the inside of his knee, he buckled and she kicked out his other knee. He crumbled to his knees and she grabbed the back of his head and brought it in against the knee she raised to meet it. He swayed, falling back, his consciousness leaving before his head had hit the floor. She bent down, saw that he was still breathing and let out a little sigh, she hadn't killed him.

"He's alive, for better or for worse..."

Rio looked her up and down, first it was a look of uncertainty. It then changed to a look of new found respect, he smiled subtly and nodded whilst she did her best not to bow. Delilah just stared.

"Was all that really necessary?" she asked.

Mendacious pondered the question, milling it over in her mind. "Yes. He was rude and this may have just taught him a lesson"

Delilah raised an eyebrow. "Do you honestly believe that?

She waved her hand. "Regardless, made me fell better if that helps you"

Rio stepped forward before Delilah could continue, both her and Mendacious' eyes followed him. "How about we leave big mouth here, and go look in the rooms on this floor ourselves?"

Delilah didn't answer, and she shrugged. "Suits me, guys an idiot, he'd more of a hindrance with us."

Rio flashed a smile and nodded. "First room, Avelija's"

He grabbed the ring of keys from his pocket. Erskine had kept them in a cabinet, all numbered to everyone's door. Rio pushed the door open, walking in slowly. She watched him survey the room, concentrating on the bathroom door, then the ceiling, then the bed. This guy had to be a pro. Checking for traps, anything that might kill them all in seconds. They walked fully in and did a sweep of the bedroom floor. It was littered in clothes. Rio grabbed her suitcase, which peeked out from under the bed, and slammed it on the bed with a strained effort. He undid the zip quickly but calmly, popping open the lid and taking a step back. Mendacious heard a door close behind her and she whirled round. Delilah was stood by the bathroom door, a weird look in her eyes.

"What?"

"You just...surprised me, that's all"

"Oh, sorry. Bathrooms clear by the way" She walked up to them and together they stepped forward and looked into the case. Knives lined the bottom, the sides and the lid of the case. All held by leather straps to keep them in place.

"How many knives does one person need?" asked Rio, his head shaking in disbelief.

"I was just thinking the same thing." she responded, the knives were many sizes and the handles alternated in colours like a colour chart. All organised and looked sharp. She looked over to Delilah, who was in complete shock.

"Skulduggery needs to see this"

Rio did up the zip and slide it off the bed, pulling up the handle for easier moving.

"Shouldn't we look for more evidence?" asked Delilah, who had taken to looking around the room.

"I guess we could. But i'd say we have enough right here"

"The more the better though"

"I suppose" She shrugged, bending down and looking under the bed. It was surprisingly clear under the bed, apart from the dust balls that clung to the carpet. When she stood up she saw Rio rifling through the bedside units. Nothing was in his hands so it seemed nothing was there. Delilah was by the window, searching the sill and the nearby chest of drawers. Each drawer was ajar and messed up.

"Damn!" Delilah exclaimed.

"Oh god, what else?"

Delilah held back the curtain, revealing an outlook of the back garden. It was a luscious green with a pool at the end of it. "She gets a better view than me!"

Rio grunted. "Does it matter?"

"Well kind of, my window just outlooks the other wing"

"I'm sure you'll live. I think we are done in this room. Did you both want to move into the next room and I'll take this case downstairs?"

"Be quick" Mendacious decided after giving it some thought. Whilst it was true that she had just disagreed with splitting up not half hour ago. But she felt confident that the killer wasn't among them. Killian was knocked out, he couldn't fight well enough to kill her, never mind a former dead man. Rio seemed rough on the outside, but she knew he was a little soft on the inside. It was all in how he carried himself. And Delilah, well she wasn't about Delilah that much for the pure reason that she wasn't too fussed with everything that was going on.

"Sure thing" He turned and walked out. She turned to look at Delilah, who was still admiring the view from the window. Maybe the fact she wasn't fussed was actually a reason for why she was susceptible. She had of course heard that people can be less effected by death, but moaning about a view mere hours removed from a gruesome death. It was just weird. Her mind began to wander and she found herself wondering how she could kill Delilah. First choice would be to throw her out of the window. But with the sigils that wouldn't work. Next would be to simply snap her neck. Or knock her out and drown her in the bathroom. What a way to go, drowned in a toilet. She shook the thoughts out of her head, she didn't like thinking those kind of thoughts. Delilah coughed, Mendacious focused on her and fought the urge to jump back as she was now stood almost right in front of her.

"Sorry?"

"Shall we? Like go to the next room?"

"Oh, sure"

Delilah smiled and left the room, Mendacious blinked and then followed. She didn't want her out of her sight for longer than she could help it. They moved into Vixens room but she paused as she stepped in when she heard jogging coming from the hallway. She stepped out ready to intercept but relaxed for some reason when she saw Rio. Her guard bounced back up when she saw his expression. He slowed, panting slightly before he spoke.

"We have an issue"

She frowned. "What's going on?"

His eyes softened. "Killian's dead"

Her eyes widened. "What! How?"

"I have no idea. I kicked his foot as I passed but nothing happened. So I double checked and, he wasn't breathing"

She went to move by him. "I have to see-"

She was cut off by a scream from inside Vixens room. She, along with Rio, bolted into the room. The room was significantly cleaner than Avelijas, and there was a table with artwork on it by the window. Next to a hooded and robbed figure dumping Delilah out of the window.

"Hey!" She snarled as she charged at the person. They turned and teleported, or shadow walked, she wasn't sure. "What the..."

Rio ran forward and looked out the window, he faltered a little and recoiled back. She urged herself forward and stepped into where he was and looked down. The sight that greeted her was Delilah, face down on the concrete patio, blood flowing from multiple exits. She gagged a little then looked to Rio.

"We need to get downstairs. Now"

They passed Killian on the way back. Rio bent down and picked up his body so she grabbed Avelijas suitcase. Skulduggery, Faith and Lucian were in the front room, talking in hushed tones. She burst in and all of their attentions snapped to her. Faith tilted her head quizzically, until she saw Rio and her face turned into shock.

"Oh my god"

"Killian, and Delilah, are dead"

Faith and Lucian looked shocked as they looked at each other, then looking at Skulduggery. For his part his skull gave nothing away, even when he spoke.

"Get everyone down here now"

Fifteen minutes later, when everyone alive had joined them, Skulduggery motioned for herself and Rio to explain, Rio nodded and began. "So, just before we started searching rooms, Mendacious and Killian had a fight after a barbed comment. She left him on the ground out cold."

This gained a few nods and looks of approval, apparently no-one was keen on Killian.

"We then searched the first room without him" Rio continued. "Avelijas room. And we found this" He showed everyone in the room her suitcase and all the knives. Raven went to speak but Rio cut in. "Let me finish. I went to bring this downstairs when I noticed he hadn't moved, when I checked, he was dead." This received gasps around the room as everyone began looking at each other accusingly. Mendacious stepped forward.

"That's not all. As he was telling me, we heard a scream from Vixens room. We bolted in and saw a hooded, robbed figure dumping Delilah out of the window before disappearing." More gasps spread across the room, Skulduggery stood up and held up a hand for calm.

"It seems out killer can adjust or remove and reapply the sigils keeping us here at will. We need to be vigilant, was anyone missing for a while?"

Mendacious answered first. "Briefly, but only when Killian was knocked out and when Rio found him"

Skulduggery nodded as Raven spoke. "Myself and Av were in a pair and we didn't see or hear anything. What about you two?" He looked over to Vixen and Ebony.

"We didn't split up, we stayed together and didn't hear or see anything either" Vixen replied. A set of fox ears burst from behind her own and stood proud. She dociled a little and looked away. Meanwhile Ebony stepped forward.

"And we didn't do anything like murder people either" she declared before stepping back into place beside Vixen. Before anything else could be said Raven began what he was interrupted with earlier.

"Can Avs case please be returned. She didn't do anything, I was with her the whole time"

Skulduggery shook his head. "I'm afraid not, they are weapons that could kill someone and you could be lying"

Ravens arms tensed as his fists clenched. "I am not lying! And you still have your guns! Lucian still has his dagger!"

"These are for protection."

"Unless one of you is the murderer"

"I'm going to pretend you didn't say that. As I can't teleport and Lucian-"

"And Lucian has been here with us the whole time!" Faith exclaimed, standing up and glaring at Raven.

"Not nice when someone accuses your partner now is it?"

"Enough!" Lucian cut in. He kissed Faiths shoulder and whispered something in her ear. She slowly sat down, but her eyes never left Raven.

"Us three have been in this room the whole time, but of course no-one here can trust us at this moment so..."

"Now what do we do?" asked Rio. "Anyone got any ideas?"

Everyone looked to Skulduggery, Mendacious included, he looked around the room but didn't say a word.