You look back through the door for signs of Qui, but the Sheriff hasn't yet returned from his loop around the estate.
"Don't worry," Jordan says. "He's probably already searching the house from the other side and he might not know to watch out for other vampires. If he gets ambushed, he'll need our help!"
The grand front door to Vivian's estate creaks open on busted hinges and you wince as the sound carries through the still night air, signaling your arrival to anyone in the vicinity.
"Damn," Jordan says. "So much for the element of surprise."
The main room is dominated by a massive Victorian-era portrait of Ms. Maier, though it would be safe to guess that she went by another name that long ago. The clothes are different, but the face is unmistakable as it looks down on you disapprovingly. The air is cold and the distinctive smell of death beckons you to a small alcove to the right where you find the body of Vivian's butler propped up on a stool. His eyes have rolled back and a trickle of blood and drool dangles from the edge of his mouth.
"This gives me the creeps," Jordan whispers as she checks the body for any signs of a vampire assault. "Still warm, but I don't think anyone drank from him. Whoever did it could still be mortal, but I have my doubts. All I know is that they must have a serious death-wish."
"We'll find them," you whisper. Anarchs gathering by the Ottawa River is one thing, but an assault on a Primogen is another thing entirely. "This has to be answered for or the whole city will be in chaos."
Jordan is already moving toward a graceful set of stairs in the back leading up to the second floor. You move to keep up. "I can sense something up there—I smell more blood. There's a dripping sound." She cuts off suddenly and practically jumps in place as Qui appears beside her. "I told the two of you to wait by the car," he whispers. His brow is wrinkled with anger. Or is that worry?
"The front door was kicked in," you say.
Jordan nods, a touch too defensively. "We thought that the intruder might run for it when they saw you coming from the back. This way we could cut them off before they get away."
"You're lucky I caught up with you," Qui says. "Did you see the butler back there? This isn't a game. Anyone who would attack this house either has more muscle than brains, or enough brains to know not to leave survivors."
Your eyes flick back down the stairs. The danger certainly had occurred to you, but hearing the Sheriff say it that way makes it suddenly seem quite considerably more menacing.
Qui's lips pull back in a silent snarl before he disappears into the shadows. "Be careful when you move on," the empty air whispers with the Sheriff's voice. "Anything could be up here."