"Excuse me."

A voice rang through the crowd, cutting through the silence. "What's going on?" A man shouldered to the front of the panicked crowd, who all watched him with wide eyes and heavy hearts. "Oh my..." He said, looking down, horrified at the sight before him.

A young man, in his early twenties, was dead, on the plaza street. He had blonde hair, and blank dead blue eyes stared out at the world. His mouth was slightly open, as though he was surprised at the time he died. The strange man checked the victim's pulse, finding none. He sighed heavily. He checked the coat pocket, and found a wallet, compact and stylish. As he opened it, the snap of the wallet making a considerably loud sound, a card slipped out. The man quickly picked it up, turning it. A credit card. It appeared, Jacques de Fleur, as said on his Visa, was dead.

The crowd watched him, still. "C-can you help him?" A shaky voice made the man turn. It was a small boy, barely looking to be about ten years old, with big eyes and a scared expression. The man sighed. "Unfortunately, I can't bring back the dead. I'm Detective Malvent. I'm from England, so don't mind my poor French." He stated quickly, looking out towards the Parisian cityscape. The boy shook his head. "Your French isn't bad, it's just a bit...off. I'm Jean."

Detective Malvent gave the boy a small smile, before focusing yet again on the corpse. Jacques had been sprawled across the street, as though he'd been pushed. Yet no high buildings were close enough for him to fall here. His blood dropped into the cracks of the cobbled street. Yet who murdered him? It could've been any of the blank faces in the crowd. Maybe that woman who shifted her gaze a bit too quickly? Or that man who stood there with a solemn expression that looked too solemn?

He looked back at de Fleur's corpse. His wind blown blonde hair and blue eyes that no doubt had shined once were now nothing more than dead azure orbs. His features were unnaturally light, like an angel.

Malvent's suspicions grew bit by bit. Tensions were high between the creatures. Perhaps...but no. He would need to confirm it later. If his hunch was correct though...

His thoughts were interrupted as another figure pushed through the crowd. It was a woman, with an elegant figure and a stately walk. She had her hands on her hips, her expression scrutinizing. She had a heart shaped face. smooth pearly skin, and light blue eyes. Her eyes were done up, though she seemed to be wearing minimal makeup, but everyone drew their breath in as they saw her.

She was abnormally beautiful. Her coat was long, and it was definitely high quality. Malvent drew the conclusion of a possibility of her being an aristocrat.

The strange woman's eyes widened, in what looked like surprise. "Leo?" Her voice rang with recognition, and Malvent blinked. How did she know his name? "What is your full name, miss?" He asked politely. She smiled, the moment of flitting surprise gone. "I am Elisabeth Von Marketh. And you are Leo Ciccone Malvent." Jean snickered, and Malvent glared at him. "Sorry, but...Ciccone?" The small kid straightened. "I'll go call the police." He said quickly.

Leo watched Jean push through the crowd and the strange woman shook out her hair. "Oh yes. It was strange to see you. But," She continued, eyeing him over. "a pleasure indeed. I'm here to see the dearly departed." Leo stepped back, and Elisabeth stepped forward, leaning to look closer. "Jacques de Fleur. May your soul be granted new life." She said, her fingers barely resting in the victim's forehead.

Malvent watched with raised eyebrows. She wouldn't dare...not in front of humans.

"Don't fret dear." She waved a finger, successfully freezing the humans, or at least slowing their time to a lowly hour per second.

Elisabeth Marketh elegantly danced her fingers over the air, pulling the Angelic essence out from within the vessel. She tsked softly, watching the ball of light transform from a mass of energy, and blackening to darkness. "I had such high hopes for this one..." She said mournfully. "I suppose he's yours now." She said, smirking and tossing it carelessly in Leo's direction.

Leo narrowed his eyes, disappearing and flashing to where she'd thrown it, before it could leave her fingers. Elisabeth laughed softly. "I see." She breathed out, staring into his eyes. Leo stepped back, pushing lightly on his toe and jumping to the fence, standing on it carefully. "Thanks for the help. I'll be going." He said, winking once before billowing open his black feathered wings and lifting off. "Until next time, love." He said, grinning wickedly and letting her see his Aura, so that she knew who she was dealing with. Looking back, her face was priceless. Her eyes were widened, her smooth demeanor forgotten.

At least he'd done that right.

Leo flew through the air, but not peacefully. He spent his time thinking. It wasn't like higher Angels to merely show up in public, especially amongst humans. It was strange to say the least. And it meant that they were getting sloppy. He smiled. Finally. The pompous pricks who held all access to the Records, well, if they got sloppy, then the rest were already done for. Leo's curiosity got the better of him. He wondered just how much chaos had been upheaved because of this, whatever this was.

Leo was interested in this. He preferred not to affiliate himself with Demons, or Fallen Angels, but right now, it might be the only way to pick away at this puzzle. He preferred to know when something big was to happen in the supernatural world.

Leo sighed, resignedly setting course for the destination he knew he had to go to.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Leo pulled in his wings, landing at the entrance to the rundown building. A silk-clad woman eyed him over, and passed by. Her pale skin and bloodshot eyes were a tell, but the fangs were an even greater one. No doubt affected by vampirism.

Leo quickly walked up the steps, glancing at the building's slanted sign.

'The Demon's Horns'

A fitting title.

Leo knocked the sign on his way past it, pushing open the door and hearing a bell announcing his entry. He glanced around, spotting several Angels disguised as Demons, hiding away or engaging in some . . . arguably non Angelic activities. Several Demons were being themselves, smooth and sophisticated. Here were Vampires, Wolf-Men, and even a couple of old Creatures. He saw a wraith-like Shadow Beast, probably from ancient cultures. Leo walked past them all, seeing the person he'd been looking for and heading over.

He sat down at the high stool of the bar and clasped his fingers together, watching as the Nephilim served a vampire some Scotch. As soon as she turned, her eyes narrowed a fraction and she swayed over. "Leo." She said curtly. "Red." He replied. "I need some help . . . information."

Red tilted her head in suspicion. She was Half-Angel, and Half-Demon, making her a celestial creature. She was what some could call a 'Higher' Nephilim, if such a rank existed for such a lowly species. She had pale, snow-white skin, smooth and flawless. Her short spiky hair was cut just above her neck, and was as black as a raven's feathers. The ends were dyed a deep bloody red. Her eyes matched the tips of her hair, the only thing signifying she wasn't merely a human with an exceptionally gifted appearance.

Red leaned on the counter, watching Leo with an intense glare. "What kind?" She asked, her voice low as she ducked under the counter to grab a white cloth and began to rub the counter surface. "The Angelic kind. I know you have it, Red." She tensely jolted the cloth over the counter, stopping and looking up. "Ask me." She said promptly, propping herself up on her elbows and matching his unimpressed expression with a challenging look. Leo sighed. He didn't have time for this. "Why are the Angels all messed up and sloppy?" He deadpanned.

The Nephilim almost looked relieved, which heightened Leo's curiosity. What secrets was she constantly hiding? "That. Some of their Records are missing, whatever that means." She said casually. Leo raixsed his eyebrows. "And you know this how...?" She smirked. "Azrel over there." She said, pointing a finger towards a man sitting primly at a table alone, looking into a mirror and carefully wiping his mouth with a napkin after sipping some wine. "He gave me some info. And his number." She said, almost as though the notion amused her. Leo nodded. "Thanks." As she turned to go, he grabbed her wrist. "Oh, and Red? If you challenge me, you will lose." He said, before letting go and getting up.

"Azrel?' He said, his green eyes glowing eerily as he sat down opposite the Angel. Azrel was a thinner build, but was obviously powerful. He had his hair cropped, and his eyes were a dark cobalt, a strange colour amongst Angels. Even so, his disdain was clearly seen. "What do you want, Demon?" He sneered. Leo smiled, sitting down in the opposite seat and leaning back. "That's Higher Demon to you. Anyways, wouldn't want your affinity for poisoned blood to be revealed, now then would we?" Azrel's sneer disappeared, replaced by a tense frown. "How do you know that?" Leo shrugged. "The stains on the inner rim of your shirt sleeves suggest that you come here often, but pull up your sleeves so no one notices the Angelic symbol on your cuff links. You were gazing at quite a few Demons with an expression that couldn't be considered pure, and Red showed me your number." He said easily. Leo leaned closer to the table. "Now then, work troubles? Do share, I'm all ears."

*~*~*~*~*~*

Azrel got up abruptly, hurrying out of view, glancing around suspiciously, as though checking to see if anyone had seen him talking to the Demon detective. Leo smirked, satisfied. A soft rustle against the tiled floor alerted him. He sat still, playing with the straw of his cup. Another muffled sound, closer now. Leo casually pulled his foot back. Another sound, extremely close and not so soft played out right after. Leo glanced backwards at the small sprawled creature, and sighed.

"Ryn?"

The little Wolf Demon pup looked up at him with a pouty expression, before growling playfully and yipping at him. Leo laughed, pulling out a small Soul morsel and passing it to it. Ryn sniffed it eagerly, stepping over to munch on it, before stepping back with a wrinkled, disgruntled expression. Leo shrugged.

Leo! It's an insect soul!

"It's a grasshopper soul. I can't help that. Ryn, for a beggar dog, you should take what you get you know."

Ryn looked offended at the very thought, instead climbing up into the seat next to Leo.

So whatcha' doin'? The pup asked, curious.

Leo shryugged. "I'm thinking I might get a case. Maybe from the Angels, maybe from the Demons. It'll be one or the other." He said, resting hishead in the palm of his hand. Ryn tilted his head.

How do you know?

Leo smiled at that. "A lotta ruckus went down recently. An Angel was sent to me." He said, pulling the darkened soul out of its container. Ryn sniffed it, before looking up worriedly.

Leo, you're involved in some serious stuff now. The dog warned.

Leo smiled grimly. "I know, Ryn, I know. Anyways, isn't it time you run back to Ryn to report what you've found out?" He asked. He'd suspected that Red had sent her pet to spy on him. Too bad he'd noticed. Ryn was adorable, but not so adorable. Or a good actor either.

Right. Sorry, Leo. At least the dog had the decency to look sheepish walking back.

Leo took a swig of his drink, glancing around. He'd never like this pub, but it was the only one that was a hang-out regularly for all Monsters. He was certain that he'd find a case here. And he was certain a little scarlet bird had just been tipped off, which was sure to send him some extra customers.

He tapped his foot, before pulling out the Angel soul. It was an Essence truly, not a soul, but might as well have been one. Still, he wondered what the Angel had done that could make his seemingly light Essence darken so. What did you do, de Fleur? He thought, his eyes narrowed in concentration. Luckily, all customers at this pub were Monsters, so the spreading aura surrounding him wouldn't alarm anyone. Much.

At least he didn't have to keep up appearances here. Amongst humans, that was a challenging thing.

Some info: So basically, I know alot of you don't even know that I moved this book, but I did. The one that's often updated is on @Sh4rds, the account where I'll be posting my other stories as well. This is the teaser I promised for 200 followers. It'll only have until Chapter Five is published on @Sh4rds, and then the rest will be on that account, so if you're interested, go check that version, mk?

Tell me what you think!