Then, they were gone.
Victim Number: V
Supervisory Special Agent Rachel Roth arrived at the crime scene of the fifth victim.
Rachel exited her black Tesla and approached the house of the victim-- no her friend and colleague Jennifer Jaroh's-- home. Holding her badge up to the officer securing the scene, Federal Agent Roth entered her friend's home.
The place they used to sit and visit was cold to Rachael. The memories were recent and yet, the emptiness was all to tangible. She carefully walked around the CSI time who were taking photographs and carefully collecting evidence. Rachel glimpsed at traces of blood spatter as she circled out of the kitchen entry and into the living room. Her deep brown eyes locked on the stained white sheet that covered her friend. Rachel's blood chilled but remained unwavering as she crossed the wooden floor toward the CSI team.
"May I take a look?" She asked reaching into her pocket for a single latex glove. She didn't mind the odd looks she got at the request; agents in her field usually had little to no contact with the victims, but, this was different. Pulling back the sheet the listless blue eyes stared up at the ceiling; Rachel's hairs stood on end, she'd seen much in her years but seeing a loved one took a piece from you every time.
When the team finished the room they cleared out, leaving Raven alone with the body. She looked around then closed her eyes. "Azarath Metrion Zinthos..." She chanted softly under her breath, a focusing mantra to center herself. A black and purple mist danced like an aura of her as she predicted her mind between the living and afterlife.
Her soul-self stood in the astral plane taking in the same house but different. It was alive with memories flitting in and out of sight like ghosts trapped in a split second. "JJ? JJ It's me Rachel, are you here?" As she left the living room and approached the hall leading to the master bedroom, she scanned each room and another ghost of her friend. She must've moved on, Rachel thought and reached into her coat pocket for her phone. She scrolled through her contacts as she entered the bedroom she called a contact. "Klause it's Raven, can you meet me tonight? I need a favor." She quirked a brow at his protest and cut mid rant, "meet me at the address I text you by nine."
With all the memories that flitted through the house, she tried to find any clue to who the killer was, but, nothing. Rachel's brows furrowed as she sighed with frustration. This wasn't working, her powers weren't right, but, she still couldn't put her finger on why they were blocked.
From behind her she heard booted footsteps approach and turned to see a familiar face and her expression dropped. "My how the mighty Raven has lost its wings." He resisted the urge to smile at her struggle. It was a pity, such a magnificent halfling, had to be reduced to nearly a mere mortal.
"What do you want, Loki?" She asked and tried-- fruitlessly-- to conjure her dark power.
Loki couldn't hide his smile now. "I'm not here for a rematch, the opposite actually," he began, his deep emerald eyes eying her dim glowing red ones. "I'm here to offer you a deal. I can help you get your powers back, in exchange I need your help." He needed a host and fast. The realm between the deadlands was bustling with rumours of a Midgardian cult; normally nothing of interest except this time, in the aftermath of Thanos' crusade, the grape vine Loki'd heard this rumor from spoke a means to unearth something. What it was Loki couldn't figure out, but, perhaps it could be of use to him.
He approached her relaxing his form sos not to seem threatening. "All I want is a vessel to inhabit until I can find an more... permanent means of resurrection."
"I'm not helping you kill someone, forget it." She stood her ground even as Loki invaded her personal space and bristled.
"Come now my dear, who said anything about killing?" He closed the space and reached up to trail his fingers along her jaw just the way she'd always liked it. He couldn't deny how he'd missed their brief fling 5 winters ago.
Rachel didn't so much as flinch at his touch, but, after a split second grabbed his hand but didn't move it away yet. "It always ends up with someone dead, Loki, how do you think I got like this?" Her normally calm bordering monotone voice flickered a sharpness of anger.
"I brought you back in time like I promised, didn't I?" He followed her trailing gaze and coaxed her to look back at him. Have I ever broken our deals?" No, well, not exactly. There were a few times he failed to give her all the facts, such as how she lost her power.
Rachel drew back and changed the subject, "I'm working now. I don't have time to help dig your ass out of trouble." Before he could say anything she pulled her soul back to the living realm and turned on her heel to exit the house. She could regain her powers on her own without his lies.
--
Lorna Dane hated days like this. The long haze that came from returning from the strange alternate reality known as the Blip. As she pulled up to Gar's flat, she tried to interject in Kori's rant, "look I'm here. I'll call Ray and see if she's heard anything yet, kay?"
"Yeah, okay. Tell Gar I say hi." Kori Andres said as they hung up.
It was nice working with the Titans, Professor Xavier spoke highly of them, though it wasn't her first choice. These cultists were something she believed the X-Men could handle, but, Charles worried about Raven's powers. Even though she was no longer working with them, they'd all grown fond of her.
As Lorna walked up to the building and found his plat number, she rang the doorbell and tapped her foot.