(Scars do not appear to be cause of death –shock ... - Bad Request

sweet scents drawn from every plane still haunted the halls. It wouldn't do
for any festivity or experience to pause in the Civic Festhall, but even when I
carried Annah in most of the faction members didn't give me a second
glance. When you trade in experiences of the most exotic, depraved, and
sensuous kinds, few things could faze you.
"What... has happened?" Dak'kon said, his voice sharp as steel.
"Shadows," I growled, "What is this city coming to if shadows can haunt the
streets and take us as prey?"
"I will take her," Dak'kon said, his voice almost insistent, but I pulled away
when he held out his hands.
"I have to talk to Grace alone."
Dak'kon was a good ally, fierce and loyal and true to his word, but Grace was
the only one I trusted at the moment, especially when I saw Morte just
floating there, suddenly and inexplicably silent.
~~~~~
"Kaji zenkai..." Grace murmured softly, her hands glowing with pale warmth
as she prayed, "My faith lends me strength..."
Annah's breathing became smoother as the healing trickled into her veins,
but still she remained silent. At best she probably thought she had been
knocked out, or wounded terribly. I certainly wasn't going to tell her that I
had, quite literally, snatched her from the jaws of death.
"I see your impatience," Grace said to me softly as she healed, "Is there
something you would ask of me?"
"I need to talk to you. About Morte…”
Grace dipped her hands into the bowl of warm water, wringing out a fresh
cloth. It was stained pink with blood, but it was still good enough to wipe
away more of the mess. The Sensates had been punctual. Unasked, they
brought hot water and some food to our rooms. "Morte is most peculiar... I
have seen a great deal in my life, but nothing quite like him. Granted, there's
no denying he is knowledgeable, but he has a certain..." She sniffed the air
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