And then there was too many people.
Stare waited until things had quietened. Then, in that peace when a strange pair of plant people arrived she moved her body around to where Ezra sat. This person, this demon and other-lavender-thing, was Nevin's assistant, whom Stare had met when coming to the alchemist's shop. Now the pair had unintentionally formed some sort of awkward friendship, and despite Vitruvion's desire to still dissect Ezra, Stare found herself drawn to them.
There they were, the white-haired androgenous humanoid, with the kenku finally sidling up the bench to beside her. Stare watched as a strange cat girl then came in, frowned when it turned out she knew Nevin too and spoke:
"Hello, Ezra. Which one is Nevin's wife then? You mentioned something about a cat girl before?" She lifted her left hand, covered in a new titanium glittering gauntlet that was thin and extended her natural claws into deadly sharp spikes, and pointed at Rainee approaching from the tree cover.
"Nevin has a lot of friends." A frown appeared in her eyes. "How many of these come to the shop? How many of them ... All of them female. Apart from you."
Intriguing ... Many are here, Vitruvion murmured in her head, following the several scans of her eyes across the group of people. There had been introductions but Stare had not really paid attention, for there had been too may other thoughts.
Mostly 'who the hell ...'
I did not plan that, she grunted back to her employer. You only sent me here to investigate the rumours. Look around the house. Perhaps I might be able to look further. Not just do a brief overview.
Vitruvion considered for a moment. They must have also followed the rumours. They are new and so it would make sense. Hmm. He smiled and leant back. She caught an image of a large, round underground room, where he sat on one of ten wooden thrones. All the others were empty, and the whole room was empty. Not even a servant to give him wine or a guard to protect his back. It was the chamber of the Brotherhood Council in the Hollow, his secret hellish empire. The place where he was truly king, that he had made to feel like a god - which had worked. Was working. Except now ... now he was entirely alone, breathing slow and seemed to be ... Sad, almost.
It made her stop. Why are you there alone, Vitruvion? she asked, What is going on?
Quickly the view was gone, and her sight was of the fire and harem once more.
Nothing, he answered, far too fast for normal comfort, Continue with your mission. I agree, go and solve the mansion. Find the truth. Entirely.
Are you ... Stare was outrageously confused. Vitruvion was always alright, he was always confident, constantly able and in control. So these emotions that she heard in his voice were ... Are you actually alright?
But, he was gone.
Leaving her to sit there by Ezra, and now curious. Ready to go into the hell.
