Dead Men Smiling

4.3

Deep down, no one truly is good or evil.

_____

-present day-

Leilani eyed what remained of Mayor Caroline's house in interest. Unlike the people that lived in the town, she didn't think that the house had been burnt down due to the Mayor's carelessness or an accident.

It was definitely much more.

Bracing herself for the worst, she stepped over the Mayor's body and placed her hand on the door knob.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."

Her hand rested on the door knob as she let out a shaky breath. "And you are...?"

"Someone who strongly believes that some skeletons are best left in the closet."

The dark haired female faced the owner of the voice and assessed the red head who stood at a distance, blue eyes watching her for any signs of hostility.

"Who are you?" She asked after some time after realising that the man wasn't a threat. Despite that, years of being amongst non-humans made her wary, regardless of species. The read head's lip quirked slightly. "I can either be your friend or your foe. The fire that lights your way." He inclined his head towards the partial ruin. "Or destroys everything in mine."

Suspect number 1: this guy.

Leilani nodded slowly before opening the door, marvelling at how it didn't fall apart at the force she used to open it.

she disregarded the living room and walked to the kitchen, eager to find out if the fire started because the stove was left on.

The red head felt pleased as he watched her hesitate with her hand still on the knob. Something flickered on her face as she shrugged and opened the door anyway; causing her current companion to sigh.

He let out a strangled sound as he trailed after her. "What part of 'some skeletons are best left in the closet' do you not understand? Do you not when to quit?"

"That's fortunately not in my vocabulary. Now move aside."

Gone was her hesitation and in its place was excitement and curiosity; two of his least favourite pair of emotions. Letting out yet another sigh, he took a step to the left only to be pushed aside by the surprisingly strong female.

"No choice but to follow her now." He murmured as he faced the direction in which she had walked off. He glared at the door in contempt. "Perhaps she can handle herself. She's done well in the past week."

Before he could make for the door that would lead him out of the house, he heard a gasp of excitement that caught his attention.

"Oh My Creator," He said as he followed the sound of her voice.

Leilani's dark eyes held excitement as she pointed at a half-intact couch. "This is where the fire started."

"Even if it was, how can you be so certain?" He rose a brow. There was no way she'd have proof.

Leilani's grin didn't falter as she pointed at the hand prints on the sofa causing her read haired companion to let out a sigh, she was good. That much was obvious; how much more could she learn from the room?

He eyes the molten silver on the floor and poked at it, gaining her attention. "Leilani?"

She stiffened at her name and eyed him warily. "How do you know my name?"

"Are you not a member of the Imperial Family?"

"You can see through illusion spells?"

Leilani didn't want to believe that Dolan could leave her vulnerable like that, even if she was being a douche bag to him earlier and he'd probably keep the illusion charm up since removing any of their own would result in the whole group being revealed.

she caught the poorly disguised grimace of her companion which he tried to play off with a shrug that caused the air to ripple slightly reminding her of when Sora would do that whenever his wings where invisible.

"You're an Angel."

He chose not to reply to her statement which further raised her suspicions. She didn't trust the being but wanted to find out exactly what had happened to the Mayor and her house. She nibbled on her lower lip before speaking, "Do you know who did this?"

The dark blue eyes held amusement as he snorted. "Of course I do."

"You're definitely not like-" "-Your average Angel?" He let out a humourless laugh. "Are you not the one who hangs out with a Demon Vessel and a banished Angel?"

Leilani wasn't comfortable with how much that the Angel seemed to know and how little she knew about matters regarding him and furrowed her brow. This action did not go unnoticed by the red head who sent a mischievous smile in her direction. "You don't like it when someone knows something you don't."

He tilted his head. "But I don't understand. Isn't the saying 'ignorance is bliss'?"

Leilani didn't reply as she left the house in hopes that the Angel decided not to follow her and ask questions she didn't want to answer. When she noticed that he was right on her tail she broke into a small jog before stopping abruptly when she almost ran into a man.

"I'm terribly sorry," She said as she rubbed the back of her neck just as the red head came to a stop beside her. She smiled sheepishly. "Redilocks over here-"

"Eric, you let her call you that?"

Leilani sent him an incredulous look. "Your name is Eric? I thought your people give weirdly exotic names." She then shook her head. "No. don't answer that. Excuse me sir but did this town receive any visitors recently?"

He nodded. "Actually. A trio had passed through and gave us a lovely concert. They went in the forest at dawn."

Eric glared at Leilani who responded with a middle finger while still carrying the conversation with the man

"Do you happen to know how to find the Stone Circle?"

The man's stiffened. "Whose asking?" "King."

"Well, then. I believe that I must let you know that you can never find the Stone Circle; it finds you."

As the man left, Eric faced Leilani with a playful bow. "I best be off and when you see Sorin, please tell him that an old friend was telling him to learn to control the fire within him."

Leilani frowned as he disappeared. Who the hell is Sorin and why does that name sound familiar?

Eric stretched his white wings as soon as he appeared in the Global Room where his mentor sat in front of a screen with a frown. Eric caught the expression and walked to the older male. "Are you ok?"

He nodded. "I'm ok. Just concerned."

Before Eric could ask why, he caught sight of what was on the screen and frowned as he took in Leilani conversing with King Leonardo. "I really don't like that man," he said with a huff as he sat next to his mentor who smiled. "I heard he might get a redemption arc."

"Oh, please. A Leopard doesn't change its spots."

"I beg to differ-"

"He just revealed that he knows Leilani's King."

They watched as she stopped talked and furrowed her brow. "How do you know?" "Who else was the Chief Investigator in your case and had all the evidence deleted?"

Eric zoned out and zoned I just in time to see the King kiss Leilani on the lips and wondered what he had missed. He wrinkled his nose as the female lightly touched her lip with a look of hidden disgust and awe.

She then pulled out a bomb that she managed to snag from Dolan and threw it into Greenland a she mounted her horse. "Ten."

She muttered one just as Green land burst into flames which soon covered the horse and female.

Eric caught the look on his mentor's face and shook his head. "That definitely did not go according to plan."