Case File 2017.07.18
The next morning they regrouped and got as early a start as possible, making it to White Lake Colorado with a little time to spare. They'd booked lodging at the local motel. The town would have been quaint and lovely 'once upon a time' if not for the graying look of the town.
LIAM WINCHESTER & RHEA WALSH
With a few hours before sundown, Liam and Rhea were checking the area to see if either could find some trace of Gwen in the area. So far they'd found no sign of her, and it wasn't like Gwen or Corvus would go out of their way to meet them. Perhaps the long drive to this current stop had rattled some of her thoughts loose to even ask Liam had anything to attempt a tracking spell. The prior nights dealing with the howling of Wanderland's Lost and the long drive probably hadn't done wonders for Liam's mood as he gave back a more sarcastic retort to her question before distracted at how the land felt...sick...wrong. She could sense it too, but not what was making the area so ill.
It was perhaps a moment later when a Sheriff's SUV pulled up beside the two of them to have a little chat. It probably was no mystery given their look that they were 'new' in town. Not that Liam or Rhea were doing anything wrong but apparently there was a curfew in the town. Due to a lot of disappearances, this was the way the citizens were dealing with the matter, and it would explain the disintrest in the missing posters they'd noticed earlier that looked like people had given up as the worn and faded images could attest. Luckily, maybe...the Sheriff had seen one with a pentacle necklace like Liam's before, Ms. Lynn. At least with a local like that in the area it probably meant they were less likely to be detained.
This Lynn individual was thought of as a witch or a Wiccan in the area. She was suspected of the disappearances at first, but then went missing herself...about six months ago. Noticing the time, the Sherrif got back in his SUV and politely reminded them about the curfew before driving off leaving the two of them alone once more. Liam notes that this was the second place they'd followed Gwen to that had a reported witch. Rhea's gut was telling her to get Liam somewhere safe for the evening and looking into this further, but he averaged they'd have about an hour maybe to check up on this Ms. Lynn-- their only lead so far since the information from Ramirez had dried up by the time they'd reached the area.
Liam and Rhea head up the hill to the dark dilapidated old house...a mansion...that might have looked nice if not for it's current physical state and appearance. Checking out Ms. Lynn's place would probably be the best start they had to determine if Gwen were there or had left...and maybe even what was going on in this town. Once at the house, Liam left to go out back and check the garden area while Rhea remained inside to see if there were any clues among the mess. The place had seen better days, but now there was a mix of damage from the elements that entered in from broken sections or open doors to the place...and graffiti stating 'Bright Eyes the Baby Thief!' in various places.
The back garden, as Liam found it had been more open and would have been nice if maintained, currently there was old furniture and stone carved statues scattered around in various poses. She didn't like the idea of splitting up, but they were on a time crunch. She started looking over the diaries she'd noticed as they both entered. As she picked through the scraps she found mentions of the word 'Bright Eyes' as it appeared the town had named something but thinking it was Lynn from what she could gather. In the back, Liam found close to a fountain a strange statue of an old woman in a curious pose that was either welcoming or warding off something-- noticing the pentacle necklace a gut realization set in along with dread. Something shattered outside from what sounded to be the patio and drawing Rhea's attention from her current reading.
She'd been in the middle of one diary entry when the crash drew her attention to the back. It hadn't taken trouble very long to find them, as much as she would have wanted to yell...she kept quite and moved her way to the back to find Liam. As she made her way outside she noticed a statue of what looked to be a man in a UPS uniform fallen over and apparently smashed into pretty hard. Black oily blood traces remained with a short trail leading to another statue...one that very much looked like Liam. Scanning around the blood trail looped back toward the house to an open side door half open.
Rhea had a sick feeling hit the pit of her stomach as she took in the surroundings and pieced together that these statues were more than artistic carvings. That Liam statue wasn't there before they'd arrived to this place...something had turned him to stone...and likely the same for the rest of these people in the garden. She went towards that half open door, following that trail of oily blood through the mansion. It ran through a prep kitchen, a side door to the foyer and into the middle of a great room before stopping. The odd quiet was unsettling and only broken by a screech as two bright blue orbs zeroed in Rhea as it fell towards her. She'd felt that sense of something lurking...and it'd happened so fast-- the stomach churning illness at the touch of dark magic washes over like a sickening ooze. Almost like reaching a hand into a next of spiders unexpectedly as the tingling sensation of hundreds of legs spread over the skin with revolting speed. Then...nothing.
ALEX DEWITT & DELILAH TURNER
Since they'd settled into the rooms prior, Delilah had run out to restock some food and supplies for them while they had a chance. She was returning just as Alex was waking up-- he'd woke earlier, threw up and then passed out...and she'd covered him with a blanket and put a bottle of water close by if he woke before she'd returned. Since his talk with Rhea the night before, it'd lifted some weight from his shoulders, but it still meant there was more to discuss later.
Not only had she'd returned with some supplies, but also food from the diner while she was out shopping. Delilah helped set out the food and get Alex situated so he could eat. She was used to caring for people back when LaDragos held her captive within Wanderland's domain. Though with Alex it was a bit different, he appreciated her help and did his best to express that she didn't need to but was thankful regardless. Though even the smallest and simplest of physical contact, like a gentle hand squeeze in thanks, was enough to stir the hunger within Delilah. She'd been trying to keep contact minimal because she understood a bit more what that was...and it was hungry.
Trying to distract herself from the other 'hunger' that a cheeseburger and fries wouldn't satiate, Delilah inquired about how his hands were feeling. She'd done some work on them and continued to while on the road since her talent would be far more subtle at causing the RV any trouble than Rhea. Between the small treatment from Rhea and Delilah's regular work, his hands were doing much better. This prompted Alex to engage Delilah in conversation about openly discussing their real self and what each other knows or should know about the other.
Delilah wasn't exactly all too thrilled with the idea...knowing there was something different about her, that which caused the hunger inside, made it more difficult to give up the pretty lie that in Alex's eyes painted her in a different light. He states that if Delilah thought she would go to hell for being a vampire then he'd be going there himself for being a demon. Alex even promised to pull back at the affection, if that's what she wanted. It wasn't that Delilah didn't appreciate it, but it was what she needed-- she'd experienced one of the best things in her life...and then saw him there, not breathing and lifeless. She couldn't be responsible for killing anyone else, especially him.
Alex could sense the distress in her voice even if he couldn't see the tears she was holding back. Delilah hesitated at first when he reached out to pull her in and comfort her, but in the end leaned into him and took advantage of that moment of comfort. For a demon, Alex wasn't all that bad of a guy. They stayed like that for a moment, each wary about that Hunger and how it could sneak up on either of them. Eventually, he had to ask her why Delilah had decided to stay with them...she didn't have to once Gwen and Liam had set into motion a chain of events that had undone what had bound her to the place. Instead, she was with them. At some point the two had finally fallen asleep, but it was a curious dream that woke Delilah...and she'd slipped out into the night for some fresh air.
