//------------------------------// // Whitechapel Vigilance 3 // Story: Truthseeker // by RB_ //------------------------------// She’s just a filly! Indeed, Snowbound looked to be only a few years older than Winter Bell. The diminutive pegasus possessed a light grey coat and a long cyan mane which hung like a curtain down to her knees. Her large mulberry eyes looked at Lyra with curiosity. “Who’s this?” This is Lyra Heartstrings. She’s a friend of mine from Ponyville, and a member of the Vigilant Owl. “Nice to meet you, Snowbound.” “Likewise. An Owl, hmm? I don’t suppose you would know a stallion by the name of Silver Lining, would you?” “Sorry, I’m afraid not.” Lyra said. “But I haven’t been with the Owls for very long.” “Oh, that’s a shame; he helped me out with a bit of trouble I was involved in some time ago. Well, he’s likely to have passed on by now anyway… May I ask for your moniker?” “It’s Truthseeker.” She’s like a living lie detector, Vinyl added. I figured that could come in handy. “Well, thank you for coming.” She flew up onto one of the sofas in the room, and motioned for the others to do the same. “I’m afraid you may be too late, however.” “What do you mean?” Lyra asked as she took a seat in her customary upright position, Vinyl laying down next to her. “There’s been another murder.” Lyra’s blood ran cold. What!? But you said the last one was only a few days ago! Snowbound sighed. “Unfortunately so; I got a message from the Lieutenant only a half-hour ago saying the police had found another body, and that he would come and inform me of the situation as soon as he got the chance. You could stay until he gets here, if you’d like. He shouldn’t be long.” Seeing their nods of affirmation, she turned to Rosa. “Would you mind making tea, Rosa?” “Not at all.” She trotted off to the kitchen. “Is Octavia well? I confess, I’m surprised you didn’t bring her along as well.” Tavi’s performing in Vanhoover right now; she’s not back until next Tuesday. But actually… The two vampires began catching up; Lyra took the moment to gather her thoughts. A ninth victim… It just seems so impossible. What kind of pony could do something like this? Her mind conjured up the image of an evil sorcerer, slit eyes glinting with madness beneath a pitch black hood as he prepared a helpless pony for sacrifice. That could explain the blood loss, actually, if it was a reagent for some sort of spell… Is that how that works? Can you even use pony blood in spells, or is that a myth? Well, there must be some reason the victims are drained, right? What can you use blood for? Transfusions? Try as she might, she couldn’t come up with any other uses for pony blood. Snowbound’s voice stirred her from her musings. “So, Miss Heartstrings. Tell me about yourself.” “Actually, could I ask you a question first? I’d like to get this out of the way.” “Oh, certainly.” “As Vinyl mentioned earlier, I’m able to tell when a pony is lying,” Lyra said. “I just want to confirm your innocence, so I’ll ask: are you responsible for the death of any of the victims?” “No; I had nothing to do with these murders,” Snowbound said with confidence. Lyra waited a moment, and when her blessing failed to activate, she smiled. “Okay! You’re clean.” Snowbound smiled back. “Good; I’d hate for there to be any doubt. Now, I believe I was asking about you?” “Oh, there’s not much to tell, really.” She pouted slightly. “Come now, there must be something. Judging by your cutie mark, I assume you’re an instrumentalist?” Lyra nodded. “I play the lyre.” “Do you do that professionally?” “Yes.” “Concerts?” she asked, cocking her head to the side slightly. “No, mostly events. Birthdays, weddings… funerals. What about you? This place can’t be cheap.” She chuckled. “I play the stock market, mostly; I’ve also been known to dabble in writing.” It was at this point that Rosa returned, a tray with five teacups balanced on her back. Lyra thanked her before levitating a teacup and saucer over to herself from the tray. “Oh yeah? Anything I would have heard of?" she asked, taking a sip of the tea. While definitely more of a coffee pony, Lyra had spent enough time in Canterlot to learn to appreciate Princess Celestia’s favorite beverage. Vinyl grinned. Ever read A Hearth’s Warming Tale? Lyra nearly choked on her tea in an effort not to spray it all over her host’s carpet; Vinyl began laughing. “You wrote A Hearth’s Warming Tale!?” “It’s not that big of a deal…” Snowbound said, blushing. “Besides, Vinyl was the one who gave me the idea.” Hey, I only told you about a Hearth’s Warming’s Eve party I ran the music for once! You’re the one who came up with the story. “Wow…” Lyra leaned back into the sofa’s cushions. “You know, that’s Princess Twilight’s favorite Hearth’s Warming story.” “Really? I had no idea.” Though she seemed to be trying to hide it, Snowbound was beaming with pride. “Do you know the princess, then?” “Oh, everypony in Ponyville knows Twilight Sparkle. Plus, we were friends when we were fillies. She used to read that story to me and our other friends every year.” A knock at the door ended their conversation. Rosa put down her teacup and went to answer the door. “Ah, Lieutenant Cuffs! Come in, we’ve been expecting you. Your tea’s over there, on the table.” “Thank you, Rosa.” Lieutenant Cuffs was a grey unicorn with a curly brown mane and a pair of hoofcuffs for a cutie mark. His eyes were bloodshot and tired. Despite the several open seats on offer, he remained standing, holding his teacup beside him with his magic. “Afternoon, Snowbound. I assume you got my message?” “Good afternoon to you as well, Lieutenant; I did indeed. Oh, before we begin, I’d like to introduce Vinyl Scratch and Lyra Heartstrings. They’ve offered their assistance in clearing up this situation.” He nodded his greetings to the two of them. “Well, If you think you can help, by all means do so; we certainly aren’t getting anywhere on our own, and the bodies are piling up.” “Your note said that there had been another victim. Is it true?” “Unfortunately, yes. We got called in early this morning; some dock workers spotted something floating in the East River.” He sighed. “Again.” “Could you describe the condition of the body?” Snowbound asked. “Spare no details.” “It was wrapped up pretty tight in a plastic sheet, the sort painters put down to catch drips; it kept the body dry. She was a pegasus mare, yellow coat and brown mane, and a paintbrush for a cutiemark. We’re still waiting on an ID. Cause of death was almost certainly blood loss through the deep cut across her throat. No blood, on her or on the plastic.” "Wait,” Lyra interrupted. “Her throat was cut?” He nodded. “Likely with a knife of some kind; it was very clean.” “Shouldn’t that automatically rule out vampirism?” “Normally, yes. Unfortunately…” Snowbound pulled back her lips and displayed her teeth, revealing two large gaps where her fangs would have been; the gums around them were blackened and dead-looking. “Why— What happened?” “I pulled them out a long time ago.” “Why would you do that?” “I didn’t want to hurt anypony else,” she replied simply. Lyra noticed Vinyl wince slightly out of the side of her vision at the statement. “However, it seems my good intentions have now made me the perfect suspect.” A moment of silence passed, before it was interrupted by Vinyl. Lyra, ask him about the other victims. “What can you tell us about the others?” “Well…”