Behavioural Analysis

"It's beautiful." Aisling was enraptured by the distant beauty.

Abaddon smiled. "If Farallon is fire, Izanagi is water. In Farallon, the volcanic elements are strong so we depend on geothermal power for running everything from household appliances to trains. In Izanagi, water is the core of all operations."

"What about Phoenix?" Aisling asked.

"Phoenix is like a little more traditional and raw. Let's say their core is fun." Abaddon laughed.

"What does that even mean?" She asked.

"They ride spirit beasts, let go of the standard human appearance. That kind of thing. I will take you there when we have a free moment." He touched and rubbed the flesh of her earlobe again.

Aisling pushed the naughty hand from her ear and focused on the hill again.

"Did you see the crime scene when it was fresh?" She asked.

"No, it was the first case. I only noticed its peculiarity after receiving a report from Ammon." He sighed. "What would you like to know?"

"Everything." Aisling frowned. "The first kill is always the most significant among serial killers. Even if the culprit killed before, this specific death probably signifies something. This death marks the beginning or resumption."

Abaddon nodded before repeating the details of the case as delivered by Ammon. He could depend on the information because Ammon's blue eyes were more than little orbs of superficial vision. They could see anything and everything he wanted to see.

"I am a little interested in this kill site," Aisling said when Abaddon finished narrating the occurrence of the murder.

"What do you mean?"

"The person who murdered the first victim must have chosen this place for a reason. It is too significant to be a casual site. If I were to hazard a guess, I would say that the killer wanted that woman to look at Izanagi as she died." She explained.

"Is the site more significant than the others?" Abaddon's eyes had a tinge of alluring interest.

"I have looked at the other cases, and I will say, yes." She paused. "The second victim was killed just outside Farallon City in the woods. The third victim was close to the border of Phoenix. However, based on the geo-imaging I saw and the winter season, there was nothing but white around him. As for the fourth one, it seemed like a casual toss of the body."

Abaddon's lips stretched. "You are quite meticulous."

Aisling felt a little embarrassed.

When she had worked with the Sentinels, she had relied a lot on her powers, but she had found the techniques they used fascinating.

Of course, the Sentinels were all quite powerful in comparison to the general population, but their strengths were mainly focused on combat power. On the other hand, the skills they relied on to find targets were based on deduction and technology.

Usually, the Sentinels relied primarily on their brains to find targets. And when they were out of ideas, they would reach out to independent contractors like Aisling and others with special powers which could be useful in an investigation.

More often than not, the Sentinels found their targets through behavioural analysis and investigative deductions.

Aisling had found it fascinating, so she had decided to learn a little for fun. It never hurt to have a few more skills in her bag of tricks.

It had paid off sooner than she expected.

"I try." She waved a hand at Abaddon casually even though she was pleased with herself.

"Should we move on to the next site?" He asked.

Aisling looked at the hill and felt a little sad about the contamination of nature. As a banshee, she did not find death energy to be overwhelming. But she could not deny that the malicious air on this hill was strong and dangerous.

If a weak person entered the area, they would probably be tainted by it. Moreover, animals and nature spirits could no longer come to this place unless the death energy faded. Based on the current state, it would take a long time for the hill to become clean.

In addition, the malice might keep growing if the soul of the deceased did not depart and cross the veil as she suspected. A dead soul trapped on the side of the living would cause persistent death energy.

"Can you turn off your aura or something?" She asked suddenly.

"Turn off my aura?" Abaddon repeated the strange phrase.

"Your power blocks out nature spirits, so I can't hear them when you are around. I think they are afraid of you." Aisling glanced at him meaningfully.

"What do you want to do?" He asked.

"I want to try purifying the hill. Let's see if the purple fruit works."

"Concealing my power will probably not help if the nature spirits can see me. I can just…"

Aisling could no longer see Abaddon. It was not a simple disappearance. It was like he ceased to exist. Before she could register what had happened, he appeared again with a smug smile.

"What do you think?" He asked as if waiting for praise.

'Unnecessarily dramatic.' She thought to herself.

"Impressive! That will work." She said out loud.