Theodore scattered his consciousness through the city. He sensed his kind and searched for them. His spiders landed to earth. Scrambling across roads, in the sewers and over rooftops. Many parts of himself were destroyed, but as long as even one remained, he would be intact before the night was over. It was easiest to find those nasty Crows, wallowing in filth and cavorting. No sense investigating them. There were others, too, strange beings and unknown lineages. Not of his interest. Tonight, he searched for the Circle alone.
       "Someone will get to face me first, but not if they're all hiding away. Who is free and unprotected?"
It was easiest to find his new friend, still sitting on the rooftop, apparently not knowing that he was a gleaming beacon of the supernatural far above the city.

       Jack quietly sat on the edge of the roof, atop the Parkland office complex. In the midst of his contemplation, he noticed an unusual sight for that time of night.

       A small bird, flying so quickly towards him he barely had time to realize what it was. The bird transformed into a familiar young man.

...

       Downtown, a spider lit on an elegant penthouse. It crawled about the rough bricks, following the scent of that foreign Sombreta woman. She was interacting with that odd, masculine Dragomir woman. What could they be going on about?
       "Lounging around in bed? How lazy!"

       Francesca rolled out of bed leaning her head in her hand.
       "I just can't believe that he doesn't take me seriously! After all this time, I'm just another weak woman in his service? Tell me I don't come off like little Sarah? I would like to think I'm--"
       "Yesyesyesyes little dear, I'm sure you will have a chance to prove yourself."
       "Thank you Angela... By the way, do you know what ever became of Kellgren? How is Theodore roaming around without his master?"
       "I've no idea really. Kellgren has never been close to our kind. Perhaps Tomasz knows."
       "Like he's going to tell me that."
Fran suddenly looked alarmed, and sniffed the air.
       "What is it dear?" Angela looked confused as Fran stalked to the window.

   "Ellen, have you seen Darren?"
       "No. Why would I have?"
       "Ummm I dunno. I thought he was... where was he last?"
       "Beats me. Not with Aubrey, of course."
       "Oh how is Dad? Are you sure he should be hanging around with that Nick? I don't think he's a good influence."
       "I dunno... How am I going to stop him? He's having fun."

Suddenly-- the theme song to Space Adventures. Ellen's phone.

       "Hello?...Really? Fine with me, but I'm not getting him for you. You try and convince Aubrey to part with his new best friend in the whole world. ...Ugh, fine... I'll be there." Ellen stood with a weary expression.
       "What is it?" Helen asked.
       "Thierry wants his kid back, for who knows what reason. Why is it that none of you can keep track of your children?"
       "Oh yeah! Where is Darren?" Helen re-remembered.

       "I've really not got much challenge versus the Circle, do I?" various Theodores thought.

...

       Elsewhere, he smelled a young one in a seedy apartment building, but could not enter to get a glimpse. The windows were all covered with cloth and the sound was somehow muffled. Probably nothing interesting...

...

       "Akiko, wake up! He started moving again!" The two women ran back into the makeshift dungeon, where their captive had started squirming free of his restraints. They didn't know, but even their most powerful attacks did nothing but injure the prisoner's pride. All day and night he spent in un-invited stasis, using only the tiniest bits of his stored blood. It would take them weeks at this rate, but they continued to try.

Dragomir, also, was not to be found. Not even a scent. Obviously, he was well-prepared. His brave knight was not so obscured.

...

Meanwhile, that dreadful Sarah was carrying on with a young lad. Scandalous!

...

       Farther away, in the industrial district, Inka Lepponen and her child Florence fancied themselves protected in the aquarium's warehouse.

       The two women used the spirit board, as they did some nights when they had nothing else to do. Tonight though, Inka wanted information about the strange goings-on and whither Kellgren.

       "Tell us, Friedrich! What has become of Kellgren?" Inka asked in a very high-pitched, yet echoingly loud voice.
       "N..O..." Florence read the letters as they appeared under the planchette.
       "Friedrich, don't be difficult. We've got some weird psychopath running about. Can't you tell us anything?"
       "L...EAVE...GET... OUT..." Florence read, furrowing her brows.
       "Leave? Oh that's just rude. I know last time Thierry had his fun asking you nasty questions, but we need your help!"

"Ugh, consorting with the supernatural? Awful!" thought the spider on the skylight, "Don't they know what danger the spirits could pose to them? They could infect your very mind. This is why one must be vigilant to stay only on the right side of God! "

...

That little Thierry was hard to track, he'd been on the move in a vehicle. He finally stopped back at the Greyburn estate.

Ellen allowed him inside. "I think you must have forgotten you'd been invited some ages ago."
As the heavy wooden door closed, the tiny spider crawled from window to window as quickly as it could, only catching glimpses and bits of conversation.
       "Are you positive you need to take him away?" Ellen asked with a smirk.
       "Why? Growing fond of him?" Thierry looked incredulous.
       "No, growing fond of having some spare time not involving wiping tears and cleaning up glitter. "
Thierry followed her through the abbey's stone halls. "Believe me, I don't really want him back either. I gotta take responsibility for that little shit though."
       "Do you have to take responsibility for him right this second?"
       "Why? Do you... oh... hmm.. heheheh... really...?"
       "I've got nothing better to do. It's been a few decades, hasn't it?"
       "It feels like just yesterday, bebe. Where to?"

The vampire's voices became too dim at this point for Theodore to track.
       "I've really no idea what they're up to..."

...

       "Hmm..." all of Theodore thought, "I do believe I've made my decision. Someone will see me tonight, and it may be the last time they see anything! Ooh, I like that one. I'll try to remember it. Now, to set the evening's plans into action."

       The spiders began scurrying to the same location, a nondescript office tower in the center of town.

UGH so late, I do apologize. I thought it would be fun to do everything (but the color) by hand, and this is what it gets me. (And you.) So sorry! Well.. Crazy action is coming soon... you guys don't even know, something that is the major plotpoint of the Kingfisher! I hope you all flip out. :D