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Theros nodded and realized that he had the man's full attention now. Starting at the beginning was the only way to do this. "When Mischa arrived back at the casino, she had just gotten out of the limosine when this woman approached her. She put a gun to Mischa's forehead, saying that it was an appointment with fate. And apologized twice but said that Mischa was the first one out, and that there had to be a message sent somehow."

A faint grin appeared for a second before sliding away as he continued relating the incident. "Mischa got angry and demanded to know what the girl was talking about. She said that Mischa was the first one out of the demon's shop and called everyone soul suckers. Said she couldn't get you yet, so Mischa was targetted. Said her Father's records showed that Edward Fauste... and she did name him, would not stand for his clients being threatened. Then she made some comments about how he values them for his research only and named Mi's connection to Asmodeus. She also called you that 'asian'. Mischa said that it was the tone that makes her think that she has a grudge against you in some way or even knows you personally, Tae."

"Kyrie walked out the front door at that point looking for Mischa and the woman shot her in the shoulder instead then vanished as in teleported out. Kyrie is fine. Sleeping. Mi would not let her remain in the hospital alone. We've tripled the protection at the casino and Kyrie is there in her own room. Lord Asmodeus has gone to look for Seere and Sam to warn them of this also. Mischa was sure this woman would try again. She said she was too well trained and sure of what she was doing and Mi seemed to think she must have files on everyone or she would not have known of Asmodeus."

This was going to be a tough situation and in order to keep the summoners and those at the shop safe, it was probably going to take all of them working together to solve the problem. A challenge if nothing else.

The glow receded from Bassett's back as the demonic angel before him spoke, and with the glow ebbed his anger. His shoulders, which had pinched up near his neck, finally relaxed and the features on his face softened. Irritation, frustration, still bubbled in his stomach, pits of sticky pitch that scaled the inside of his chest, but Bassett did his best to quell it. Suddenly things started to make sense. Lilith...Lilith the queen of all demons, she was the one who had done this to him. She was the one who set in motion a wheel of fate that would spin wildly out of control for the soldier. The anger that was supporting his back gave out, and he slumped considerably.

He was wrong to place all his blame on Odessa.

It was Lilith, her mother who had done this to him. That still left him to wonder though, what was he to Odessa now? Was he...? Human, demon, friend or...?

Bassett pinched his brows tight and reached up to press his hands against the heat of his forehead. This was all too much. Glancing up at Sofiel, giving a face of one defeated, he sighed. He didn't know what to think of the odd and very unnatural smile coming from the demon, but he tried to return one nonetheless. After all, the soldier was still, somewhere beneath it all, just a humble youth passing by. He would not forget his manners so easily.

"...I get it," he said at length, his voice heavy, "I ******** get it. I won't speak of her to anyone. You have my word as a soldier. Is there anything else you'd like for me to know before I leave?"

"If it's any consolation," said Sofiel, rising and fluffing his wings out, "she's looking out for you. Things could be going much worse, like they have for Miss Kyrie Cross. She was shot, just an hour or two ago."

He paused, then said, "Please stop to talk to my summoner on your way out... He will have information for you."

The fallen angel stepped forward after setting the book aside on the counter. "And come back soon, especially if other... strange things happen. I will do my best to ensure Edward is here to speak to you."

Tae-yul sighed, frustrated. "Rare enough, for humans! Summoners can't teleport unless they've made a bond with a demon capable of it and a hunter shouldn't be able to do it at all, they can't summon at all, they're just people--damn it. Black eyes. Here."

He fell silent for a minute, impatiently throwing his hair out of his eyes. And again--he was reading that page of the book. "Black eyes aren't common outside of Hell," he said after a long moment; "Really they're dark brown. But if Mischa is certain they're black, that means that the hunter we're looking for is a summoner as well."

Cynically, he laughed. "Gabriel van Helsing would let her help, damn it, if she was his. So whoever we're dealing with, she's the daughter of the Butcher of Belfast and a summoner."

Tae-yul was quiet again, expression for once without ire or rancor.

"Tell Miss Renaue that if anything happens to Kyrie Cross, I will hold her responsible," he said, finally. "And that if she wants to avoid the mortuary table, she should avoid places with heavy shadows."

Even though Theros heard the shoes he continued, nodding as he raised an eyebrow. He did note the names given as Tae continued his tirade. "I'll see that Mischa knows. I imagine the casino will be well lit up from this point onwards and make sure that Asmodeus knows this information on this particular hunter as well. If we get more, then I'll see to it that you get such. I have the impression that this is going to get worse before all is said and done."

He glanced over at the fellow now entering the room. "It's alright. I was just leaving. I've done what needed here and I've responsibilities to return to. Just make sure everyone knows because if Mischa was targeted then others will be also."

With a grin, he watched Bassett a moment then teleported out after bowing to both. Being half demon had its perks and he had planned on leaving so to throw off anyone who might be watching the door outside. Now he needed to find Asmodeus and turn up the light. Drive those shadows away. Literally.

This was frightening, to see Tae-Yul so strung-up, taut as if he were to snap at any given moment. He was sure that the man was already fraying at the breaking point. Bassett felt himself sharing that intensity, his own muscles stiffening and own his joints locking themselves into place, as he watched Tae-Yul speak.

"That's terrible...What...What is happening?" Bassett found himself saying, his words just above a mumble.

So Sofiel was right: one of the other summoners was shot. Kyrie Cross, he said. Bassett felt a coldness grip his heart. Something was terribly askew for things to be happening this way. First, all the strange happenings, the fabric, and now someone was shot? What would happen next? he wondered, 'what kind of evil could be hunting down summoners'? Apparently, Tae-yul knew exactly what kind of evil it was, and he rattled off a physical description of a young woman that he would have to look out for. Bassett cataloged the important information in his mind, putting it somewhere easily accessible in his cortex. He would be needing it if he had to warn others too. Bassett nodded, his frown deepening with grooves of seriousness. His last piece of advice struck him, echoing in his mind like the wail of a bell.

Run.

"I will, Tae-yul, thank you. I'll keep alert," he said, feeling unnerved about his remark of "tainted nature" being useless in the face of this enemy. Bassett made his way to the door, motioning his demon down from the rafters.

Pey jumped out from the shadows and slunk into his spot behind Bassett. After hearing everything between Tae-yul and the Theros, the blood thirsty demon felt an increased need to stay on Bassett's back. He was, after all, contracted to protect Bassett and with this threat wandering around, threatening to destroy his source of blood...

Speaking of which, he was beginning to get really thirsty. Pey's thoughts drifted as he glanced towards the pulse of Bassett's neck.

"I'll warn, whoever I can," the soldier promised, making his way, step by step, towards the exit. He gave his thanks again to Tae-yul, made a formal salute to the man, and then made his way out the door with a brief, rather confused sounding, "Until next time." He headed away from the shop, glancing this way and that as he entered the atmosphere of the street. Settling himself into step and keeping alert of the concrete world around him, Bassett couldn't help but keep his thoughts from wandering to all kinds of conclusions and musings.

Run where?