Bloodshed

He watched the murderer saunter out of the room. After he saw the robe flap by the door and out of sight he began to survey the room. All incredibly neat and tidy, doesn't even looked touched. Then his gaze re-found the sigil circle on the floor. Skulduggery assumed it was a trapping circle, he even recognised the magic draining sigil. A very simple trap all things considered. He nodded in appreciation, not allowing himself to dwell in the fact that he walked into a trap so simple.

Cocking his head, he snapped his fingers, not showing the surprise when a flame grew in his hand. Was there no magic dampening sigils? After inspecting each sigil individually, he found that there was indeed a magic dampening sigil. So why wasn't it working? Maybe it had been drawn wrong, but then why such attention to detail to everything else? He tilted his head once more, placed his hands in his pockets and then simply walked out of the circle.

"Huh"

His gloved fingers found the amulet he found on the teleporting mystery man. Reminded him of Fletcher due to how highly annoying he was. Good thing was that he was allowed to shoot this one. Pulling out the amulet, he saw the dark purple colour pulsing from within. Perhaps the amulet was the reason for the sigils malfunctioning. That would explain why he had it in the first place. He inspected it further, turning it. The letters D.E were engraved on the back, maybe this was the mans name. He'd have to ask.

A few seconds further into inspecting the room, he hear a loud crash from the other side of the floor. This could be the location of the killer, and without a second thought he took off towards it. Seems as the lights were suddenly back in operation he didn't need a flame to see. Noticing blood on the stairs, he couldn't hear fighting anymore so he followed the blood like a yellow brick road. The amounts he found varied, for instance there was a pool of it at the bottom of the stairs, whilst only droplets were on the floor to follow. But then again he loved a good treasure hunt so onward he went. He rounded the corner and came across the corpse of Raven. That was a pity, a dead end and all. He turned back around and headed once again to the stairs, pausing briefly when he heard voices. Staying Ghastly Bespoke statue still, he waited until they were about to pass before pouncing.

"Boo"

"Fucking hell!" Faith was stood side by side with Lucian, one hand held together, the other both ready to unleash at him. "You just gave me a heart attack bone bag! Why the hell did you do that?"

Lucian just scowled at him, which was quite funny all things considered.

"I thought we could use some cheer in the air, where have you both been?"

"Vixen didn't tell you?" asked Lucian, his face now showing his concern. Faith was wearing her usual look of bewilderment.

"She ran off after both of you but never came back, to be honest I thought she stayed with you both"

"No, I sent her back to tell you guys that Faith was trapped in her room"

"Well, she never relayed the message. Also, not only Raven, but Avelija as well are dead. Her body was found by Raven before the murderer attacked us and fled. Being the courageous man I am, I gave chase. But alas, they trapped me in a circle and quite smugly walked away."

Faith nodded slowly. "So, how did you get out?"

"I walked out"

They both looked at him with confused but annoyed expressions. "Perhaps I should elaborate. I took an amulet form our mystery man downstairs and it seems to have the power to nullify the effects of sigils on the holder"

"A handy little trinket if I do say so myself, so that's how the guy was able to teleport. By why didn't he use it so escape?"

"Correct, also probably how Delilah was dumped out of the previously unopenable windows. I guess he never got the opportunity?"

"Right...so that answers that. So can we use it to leave?"

"I do believe so, of course we limit who we tell"

"Obviously" said Lucian. "But if we can leave then why don't we?"

Skulduggery cocked his head. "And let the murder of scot free? And because i'm awesome and have figured out who the killer is"

"Oh. Great, who is it?"

He shook his head. "I need a bigger audience to marvel in my amazing detective skills"

"Of bloody course you do, let's get to the living room and get this whole ordeal over with then"

He nodded, leading the venture back to the living room. They didn't see anyone on their way back, just more blood drying on the floor. Not much was said, probably silent with anticipation. When they walked in they were met with the sight of Mendacious lashing punches down on Vixen. Faith burst in and pulled Mendacious off just before she melted Vixens face.

"What the hell is going on?"shouted Faith, holding Mendacious back whilst Vixen just moaned.

"She's the killer! I saw her with a knife standing over Ravens dead body" She pushed herself away from Faith but didn't renew her attack. Faith and Lucian both looked over to Vixen with apprehension.

"Vixen...tell me it's not true"

Vixen poked her head up, her nose was bleeding and swollen. "I swear it wasn't me"

Skulduggery just walked into the centre of the room with his head tilted. Most people's eyes followed him.

"I have a way of finding out" He walked over to the guy in the circle, kicking his foot. "Awake are we?"

"Skulduggery" Faith cut in. "He won't tell us plus we can hardly trust his word"

He waved her hand away, pulling out his gun. He could practically see the look on everyone's faces when he handed the guy his gun.

"If Vixen is the murderer, shoot her and you will be able to walk out of here free"

"Skulduggery!"

He held up a hand but didn't break his gaze from the man who was staring at the gun in his blood soaked hand. He tilted the gun in his hand curiously then aimed it at Vixen.

"Skulduggery!" Screamed Faith. Vixens face was frozen with shock, Ebony looked curious. Lucian looked like he didn't know what to think whilst Mendacious looked surprised.

Vixen tensed as the man pulled the trigger, the sound of the hammer hitting the empty chamber filled the room. Faith sighed with relief. The man looked down at the gun confused before Skulduggery took his gun back from him and clubbed him in the head with it. The man fell forward with a groan.

"What the hell?" Shouted Faith, shooting him a glare but he just shrugged in response.

"It was simple, if Vixen was the murderer and his accomplice, then he wouldn't have shot her. He knows that this friend is the only way out for him and he would never risk that. So his eagerness to shoot Vixen shows she isn't the killer as he wanted to lessen his friends load"

Vixen slid back up the wall whilst Mendacious marched forward.

"And how could you be sure that he didn't just take your deal?"

"Again, simple. He himself already stated that he doesn't trust us, especially me. He knows I wouldn't honour the deal, which would make killing his partner in crime pointless and thus he wouldn't do it"

"You really can be a smartass Skulduggery" said Lucian as he walked into the room.

"That's just rude"

"Face it Skulduggery, you're a show off"

"I am no show off. I merely showcase my abilities at opportune moments"

Faith rolled her eyes. "I wonder if you've ever said that before"

Skulduggery cocked his head. "I believe everyone who is still with us is indeed with us?"

They all looked around, however no-one disagreed so he continued. "Okay then, I need everyone's attention" They all blinked in waiting, probably wondering what he was going to say.

"Earlier tonight I was trapped in a sigil circle, but I escaped thanks to this amulet" He held it up for everyone to see. "I took it from our mystery man. Using this we can all leave this over decorated house"

"That's great news!" Everyone now wore smiles, even Vixen who had taken to leaning on the door jam. And then of course the mystery man started laughing. He turned quickly with apprehension.

"And what may I ask is so funny?"

"You're standing there...so so smug. Thinking you've won, outsmarted the best of the best. You don't get to walk out of here alive. None of you do. You will receive your deserved demises. There is no escaping your dates"

Skulduggery thought about shooting him but remembered he hadn't reloaded so the move wouldn't work. The man grinned, assessing the room he pulled out a switchblade.

"Indulge me skeleton, I'm sure you've noticed the dark aura in that there amulet?"

"Of course I have"

"Well, that shows that it's bonded to me, so when I do this-" He cut himself off when he sliced his own neck, falling before anyone could even gasp.

"Don't tell me..."

Skulduggery watched as the previously pulsing life from the amulet dissolved away. To test it, he tried the window.

"Well, that's just annoying. The epitamy of being a poor sport"

"It gets worse" Ebony pointed out, everyone matched her gaze, seeing another person kitted out with a robe and a knife held against Vixens neck.

"Let her go"

The person just shook their head, not uttering a word.

"Fine then, I can disclose exactly who you are. If you want to save face, let her go unharmed right now."

The person shrugged, slashing Vixens throat from end to end before pushing her bleeding corpse into the room. Faith and Mendacious clicked flames into their hands, Lucian summoned shadows and Skulduggery summoned two flames and aimed them at the person, ready to stream them. And then Ebony walked over to the killer.

"She was my best friend...and you killed her"

The person shrugged again and then cocked their head, still remaining silent.

"I don't know why you are doing what you was doing, but you must be punished for this"

She raised her arms to fight but the killer was quicker. A lot quicker. Snapping her fingers, gauntlets appeared over their gloved hands. They shook with electricity as the killer grabbed Ebonys head, wrenching and then in one fluid motion pulling her head right off.

Every power was thrust forward, only meeting a shield. Skulduggery stepped forward, eye sockets not leaving the killer.

"All of this went too far the moment you killer the first victim. Surrender. Now. And the beating I give you won't lead to a slow painful death for you. Otherwise, you'll see why they call me ruthless. Delilah"

She cooked her head, pulling down her hood and letting her jet black hair fall past her shoulder. She looked straight and him and winked.