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The pieces of paper were covered in blood, yet it seemed to simply roll off and drip down. Protected paper. It wasn't even wet in the least. Franz had ripped it somehow for a reason. Maybe to make sure that noone would know his findings. The first piece of paper read the following. This creature holds the ability to travel through Astral space and dimensions allowing travel back to another plane or dimension of living. The other paper read this, This creature, more like a monster, holds the ability to cast a spell that can create a portal to another dimension or plane. This can be traversed to and from the Shadowkinds' plane of origin.

This meant that there was a way back. There was a way to return back to where the Shadowkind as themselves were born, there was a way to return to that long forgotten life...A life of simplicities and less. The charred and wet remains of the other waxed paper was in the trashcan, and so how the fire had been started...

The S.W.A.T. team wasn't hard to hear. They were trying to let them know their positions. A loudspeaker came on from outside the door. "Come out of the office, toss your weapons down so we can see them, and then put your hands behind your head. We have you surrounded, and will resort to force on such terrorists!" Were they confused, or maybe they really thought that, since these people had invaded a legitimate business, the experiments unknown and hidden from the public eye, and murdering the boss...these 'heroes' were going to jail...for saving those in the shadows.

Kort left Na'Fiel's side and danced next to Zaniah. He smiled charmingly and peered over her shoulder, trying to make out the words between the drops of blood. She walked away though, and he shrugged.

Outside, he could hear boots stomping heavily. Z'Kort frowned, obviously the police were not very stealthy. He sauntered over to Arkus and smiled. "Would you like a shoulder of support?" The elf cooed, batting black lashes up at the minotaur in mock flirtation.

"Come out of the office, toss your weapons down so we can see them, and then put your hands behind your head."

Kort glanced up, surprised. "They act as if we're the villains," he murmured, taking a couple steps backwards and staring around. There was little way out, afterall, they were on the twentieth floor. What type of person didn't make an exit to an isolated office?

"We have you surrounded, and will resort to force on such terrorists!"

"Well, any ideas, people?" Came the bored voice of the fellow elf, dark or no.

The elf winced and began stalking around the large office. There really were no exits. "What if he got trapped in a fire?" Kort mumbled, knocking on every piece of wall, checking every cranny. "What if there was an earthquake?" He dropped to the floor, looking at the cracks to see if any air was coming through. Nothing.

Z'Kort bounced up, steel, everything was steel. Reinforced with concrete, huge bolts to keep it together, impermeable to everything, probably even missiles. He kicked a table and hissed, "What is wrong with this person?"

The speed demon looked down at the dead Franz. "...was wrong with this person," he ammended. "Everything's steel, there's no way out." Kort announced, turning back to the main group.

((For your information, the window's are special safety glass. Meaning that only Arkus could break through them, but it would hurt even him. There is a helicopter about to descend outside as well. There are no exits, because Franz is an efreeti...he didn't need them. Your only plausible exit is the doors, and trust me...it's all part of the plan 3nodding ))

Grumbling, Zaniah slid Shan'naal back into it's sheath on her back, and examined the other sword that the efreeti had throw earlier that she had grabbed. Nodding silently, she stuck it behind her belt and walked foreward slowly, her jaw clenched and her left eye twitching as she forced herself to walk normally.

Her dark eyes watered though as the pain in her side grew, she would need to have it taken out soon otherwise she'd be in agony. It didn't seem to be stuck in anything important.. just her SIDE! She did wrap an arm about herself, attempting to stem the flow of her own blood as her shoulders drooped forward.

"Well then, lets give this a shot then." She grumbled, following Na'fiel out.

Arkus let out a sigh. "I suppose I should offer you the door next?" He asked Kort, chuckling grimly. He shook his head and put his hands behind it, limping out the door, towards the SWAT team, joining the others.

Not bothering to even wait for the orders, he joined the others in laying on the floor, face-down with his hands behind his head.

Briefly he wondered if they had handcuffs big enough to fit on his wrists, but then again, it wasn't necessary. In human eyes, Arkus was a murderer. To flee from his captors would be dishonorable. He'd sooner face death than run like a coward.

However, breaking out was such a different story...

But he couldn't do that. These guys were trained, the elite. He knew that from their gear. Mostly M4 carbines and automatic shotguns throughout the lot. He had read upon on guns, finding them interesting but not enough to actually buy one. There were a few SPAS-12 shotguns and a good deal of H&K weapons, mostly MP-5s and such. All squad weapons, that's for sure.

If he had jumped out and attempted to harm them, he would've been dead before he hit the ground... And once again he wondered if they had handcuffs big enough for him.

Or ones that could hold a thrasher's strength down.

Na'fiel did what they had commanded, lying on the floor. Thankfully, it wasn't wet anymore, or that would just cause more problems. Her wounds were still bleeding freely and putting her arms on her head hurt. She did so anyways, not wanting to bother with trying to get out right now. It wouldn't work.

Briefly, she wondered weather they would really have some trouble. Well, they were technically the 'hero's' of this story. Never gratitude...never... Ah well, it wasn't like she was expecting to be famous or anything. Well, they were famous...in a way.

Sighing softly, she layed there, rather bored and in pain. Humans were just so stupid sometimes... She wondered what they would do to them. Would they be tried? What for? They didn't do anything wrong, save for knock out a few people...kill some...cause mass chaos and a few other things. Okay... Maybe they went a little over the line...

The lead guard shot a hole in the ground at Z'Kort's feet. "DOWN!" They weren't in the mood to play around. Once Z'Kort got down the members would move in quickly and handcuff each. They somehow had handcuffs that fit the large man. They were specially made with the experience from people in the past of his size. Once their hands were behind their backs now, each would be lifted up, Arkus with multiple men. They would then stand behind and in front of the ground leading them toward the stairs. "Come on let's get you to the station." They were in for a long night...

'Well, that's rather odd...' The minotaur thought as the handcuffs were slapped upon his wrists. 'I'd attempt to break them, but it's too risky. No need to throw my life away.' He thought as they hoisted him from the ground.

Arkus was not pleased. Not in the least. Angry that they had been captured, angry that Franz had not died so easily, angry that they were wounded and now weak, and angry that they had been discovered. Hooray. What a joyous occasion...

As he was hefted down the stairs, he feared that he may be dropped and might have to rely upon a shattered ankle and a single foot to stop himself, but then again, these guys were professionals.

Obviously these guys didn't get out much or just didn't like wrestling or boxing; Arkus had appeared multiple times on Pay-Per-View in cage matches or boxing tournaments. Nobody could surpass him because of his racial advantage. It was almost like cheating, but Arkus figured that the money was good enough, and that the people were, after all, stupid enough to believe that he was a man in a bull's head that had a foot problem and wore special caps, so it didn't bother him too much.

Pummeling was fun.

Getting pummeled wasn't as much fun, but it was less fun when you couldn't return the pummeling.

Arkus wished he was free. He wished he could get free. He wished he could bash down these men like the flies they were to him.

But even flies with guns were a threat, so he didn't...