text: Maybe you're just cautious, or maybe you actually have become a better person, but a deal is a deal. You agreed to help in exchange for his silence so that's what you're going to do. Doesn't mean you're going to like it though and it certainly doesn't mean you're going to go through with it like how Franklins would have you do it.
  
  "Okay, a deal's a deal and I'll do your dirty work, but I'm going to ask why don't you just do the obvious." You say.
  "What?" Franklins asks.
  "Kill the bastard. I mean you got militia connections. Surely it wouldn't take much."
  "I'm not using the people who are supposed to be keeping law and order around here as my own personal hit squad."
  "Given some of the interaction I've had with them and how they massacred the Crimson Talons, most are bullying assholes anyway. They'd probably love an excuse."
  "Be that as it may, I'm not going to resort to such tactics... hmm do you know any assassins?"
  "What? Why? Because I used to be a thief? I know you claim to know all about me, but if that was really true you'd also know I didn't hang out much with other criminals, let alone professional assassins. If you want one of those, go seek one out yourself, you certainly got the means to do so."
  "I'm not associating with anymore criminal scum than I have to. It's bad enough I have to deal with you."
  "Oh fuck you hypocrite. You don't seem to have any problems with me risking my life breaking into some place, which is run by a half demon. Or maybe you just don't give a shit? You'll win whether I succeed or get myself killed in the process right?"
  "I am not trying to get you killed. I was just under the impression that YOU were very skilled in your... trade. If you don't think you can handle it, then fine. I'll figure something else out."
  "So you can harass me later? I'm not going to have this hanging over my head... " you start to say before you're interrupted.
  "You don't have anything hanging over your head! Not anymore. I mean I just blabbed a big secret to you and you didn't even try to use it as leverage against me to weasel out of our deal, which I half expected you to do. At this point I can't even claim the moral high ground anymore. As far as I'm concerned you're free of your obligation. You're obviously better than I previously believed you capable of. Congratulation, now get out of my sight."
  
  That's a pretty strong statement coming from him. You know that had to be hard for him to admit.
  
  "(Sigh) Look, I'm still willing to help, but I'm still not understanding WHY you can't just use the militia to kill Reynolds. If he's as evil as you keep claiming, isn't it better that you just get rid of him as quickly as possible before he can do any real damage?" you ask.
  "Because it's a slippery slope. Sure, you may even be right. I abuse my power to eliminate an obvious evil. No harm done. What about next time though? Maybe the next person isn't demon spawn. Maybe he isn't even as bad, but is just in my way. Will I resist the temptation? I don't know and neither do you. I sometimes look at this city and even though it's probably one of the better bastions of civilization in this forsaken land, I sometimes still see the decay and rot underneath. It's always there even to a minor degree. Part or the curse of being half angel I suppose, but I'm trying to maintain what order I can without lowering my own standards and I'm already failing horribly at it. I can't afford to fail even more." Franklins remarks.
  
  Franklins goes back to his drink and you search you mind of a way to help while still trying to fall within his weird angel guidelines. (Or maybe it's just his own weird personal code that he's placed upon himself for misguided reasons)
  
  "The two goons Mr. Reynolds has. Why don't you have them arrested? I know you said Reynolds has influence, but I gotta believe his two thugs are probably shady enough that they could at least be held on suspicion right?"
  "Well... Reynolds' son has been a minor suspect in some suspicious murders. As for the ogre, I think he's busted up a few bars. While I'm sure the militia could hold them both for a little while, maybe even a week, but they would be out in a very short period. And I guarantee they won't turn on Reynolds if that's what you're thinking."
  "Don't need them too, just need them out of the way since I'm betting at least one of them is acting as an on duty guard even when his office is closed. I think with them out of the picture, it will lessen the risk to pull this off. I just need more time than what you suggested."
  "Wait, you're still going to do it?"
  "As I said, a deal's a deal. You didn't say shit about my past to Yvette, so I'm going to do this favor for you. Besides, I'd be lying if the challenge isn't stirring up old interest at this point. Just let me know when those two goons are out of the way. I'll be working on shit from my end until then."
  
  Franklins is so surprised by your helpfulness he doesn't even have any snide comments towards you for the rest of your time you speak with him. He's got some reservations about what you propose, but he says if you think you know what you're doing, he's going to trust you.
  
  You leave Franklins place wondering if you've maybe lost a bit of your mind for agreeing to this task, but then you realize, you were probably just getting a little bored.
  
  Still, a lot is riding on your plan and you have to be very careful because this isn't just you now. It's your whole family you could potentially lose. It doesn't make things easier that part of this plan indirectly involves Yvette.
  
  You don't exactly keep up on all of Yvette's magic studies and such, but you know that she was recently working on something relating to invisibility. Of course you're really going to have to approach this carefully or this is going to make things infinitely worse. The only reason why you're considering it is because quite frankly you haven't exactly been as active as you used to be and have probably gotten slightly out of shape.
  
  If you're invisible however, it takes some of the pressure off of things like not having lightning reflexes and the quickest feet any more.
  
  Later as you're settling down for the night, you address the subject to Yvette who is reading something in bed as she usually does.
  
  "So, uh... you mentioned something about working on something related to invisibility?" you ask.
  "Huh? Yes I am." Yvette says not looking up from her book.
  "I remember you mentioning something a week ago or so about it. Is this a new spell or potion or something else?"
  "It is a potion actually or rather an attempt to strengthen the existing formula."
  "Something wrong with the old one?"
  "Yeah, invisibility potions are hard to make due to the ingredients, which means they're rare to begin with, but the bigger problem is they have never been very effective." Yvette says now looking at you.
  "What, like they only turn you invisible and your clothing is still visible or something like that?"
  "Hah, that can happen with the wrong ingredients, but the main obstacle is they don't last very long. Usually ten seconds tops. Most wizards won't even bother making them due to the long, tedious process involved for such a short payoff. I've been trying to figure out a way to extend that to at least a half hour."
  "So is it easier to just cast the spell?"
  "Yeah, but only on yourself. Casting the spell on others can really take it out of you as far as upkeep is concerned. It's probably why the research on the potion was made. So... why all this sudden interest in my work? You don't tend to ask most of the time."
  "Well to be honest when you speak to me about this stuff, it usually sounds so complicated that I feel sort of dumb."
  "That's ridiculous! You are most certainly not dumb! I mean you had the intelligence to go to Klyton University at one time. I always said you should go back and finish your degree in... engineering wasn't it?"
  "Yeah I just don't have time for that now. Besides, I'd rather spend my free time spending it with Trinity rather than in a class room."
  "You are an attentive father." Yvette says with a smile.
  "I try, but anyway I was also asking because I was wondering if you could help me in a job."
  "Oh?"
  
  You explain to her that some government associate of her father wants some elaborate security system, because he doesn't want any militia guards assigned to his house. You aren't exactly sure what it's all about, something about death threats from an unknown ex-government worker. He says he isn't worried, but it couldn't hurt to update his security so he asked for you and he wants the best.
  
  You explain that you want to test the security you're installing will be good against someone who is invisible.
  
  "Shouldn't the locks still keep them out? I mean even if someone is invisible, they aren't intangible." Yvette asks.
  "True, but just in case they still manage to get in, I've actually have been working on something that detects movement. I guess it's experimental, sort like what you've been doing." You explain.
  "Huh. I didn't know. Well I mean I suppose I can help, though I'm not sure how."
  "Well you said you made a bunch of potions of invisibility. Just give me about ten of them and I'll... "
  "Wait. Are you going to drink them? You can't just drink ten invisibility potions one right after another! You'd get sick!"
  "Well you said they didn't last long. I'll pace myself. Wait, haven't you been making progress on the formula?"
  "Um, yeah a little bit. I created one that last up to around twenty minutes give or take... wait you don't want to try that do you? It's only in the experimental stages and I've only tested it on qweepas! You don't know how many died before I got that right! Its a good thing the university has an infestation of the critters otherwise I might have run out of easy test subjects."
  "Well I trust you. Just give me a couple of those improved potions and... "
  "A couple?! No, if you were going to get any, you'd get ONE. And I still don't think that would be a good idea."
  "You're going to have to test it on humans at some point right? I could help you with this, while you help me!
  
  Yvette thinks about that proposal for a moment.
  
  "Well... I suppose it could speed things along... but I dunno... I'd never forgive myself if something went wrong. But if you want to risk it, I'll give you one like I said." Yvette says.
  
  This is a question of how fast do you think you'll be and whether you want to risk drinking something that could quite possibly turn you into a purple frog with a cat head or just outright kill you instantly.
  > take the regular potions
  Hopefully, you won't have to stay invisible for long because you're not going to risk the experimental.
  
  "I'll just take several of the regular ones." You say.
  "Okay... but I'm not giving you ten! I'll give you three and that should be more than enough and I still think it's a bad idea to drink so many right after each other, so don't blame me if you get sick." Yvette says.
  "Three?! But...(sigh) fine. So when can you get them for me?"
  "I'll get it for you tomorrow when I come back from work. You don't need it sooner I hope."
  "Nah, he still needs to organize some shit on his end. You know how these government types are with their hurry up and wait shit. Chances are, it's going to be a sudden thing that I'm going to have to drop everything I'm working on at the time. I just want to have the potions when I do need them."
  
  As it turns out, you don't have to wait too long and Franklins is pretty efficient in that regard. He informs you that from what he heard, Reynolds protested very loudly about his son and the ogre being arrested and has already claimed that he is going to make sure heads are going to roll for this slander and injustice. Franklins tells you his name predictably came up in the blame game, so he wants you to go get that container before Reynolds starts acting on his threats.
  
  You gather up some extra supplies from work. Ned isn't really going to notice and the guy is practically on the verge of willing you his place of business when he dies anyway. Even when you say you need one of the special magic lock breakers he hardly bats an eye and just tells you to be careful with it since they're very hard to acquire, let alone make.
  
  Later that week when you finally have everything you need and feel prepared, you tell Yvette that you're going to be working a little late on this paper pusher's security since this is the moment.
  
  You linger around in the neighborhood where Mr. Reynolds maintains his place of business. In the old days you might have been a little concerned about getting mugged in the area or running afoul of some sort of thugs while you wait, but things are lot more cleaned up without the Crimson Talons around and the militia keeping on top of things. Probably just as well that you gave up your profession when you did... so to speak.
  
  Eventually Mr. Reynolds' place of business closes down for the day and unfortunately just as you figured he doesn't leave. Probably has a whole living area to himself in the building, which means more caution is going to be needed on your part while you search for a safe because you're going in totally dry.
  
  You decide to do this the old fashioned way and stealthily break in and only use the potions if you get into trouble. You only have three and they don't last very long after all.
  
  One thing you wish is there that there was a back door to the place, but you looked around earlier for one and no luck. Not even a window, or least not one you could easily climb up to. As the streets become less populated, you head to the front door and work on the lock. It's actually not difficult and you're in pretty quickly.
  
  You have to put yourself back in that calm mentality when you used to do this before, but it's a lot more difficult because there are so many things that could go wrong. That's not even counting that this guy is a half fucking demon. Who knows what sort of powers he really has?
  
  You do your best to press forward and just get on with it. You're just glad you had the forethought to go to the bathroom before you did this.
  
  You sneak about his office first, hoping that maybe he keeps a safe in here, but so far all you're finding is locked drawers with papers and not much else. You do find a fancy looking pistol under his desk. Its way nicer than the one you have at home and has multiple barrels, (You sort of wish you brought it with you) probably a custom job. You figure since you're here stealing shit anyway, you take it.
  
  You eventually finish going through everything you can in the office area and that's when you realize you're going to have to search Mr. Reynolds' living quarters.
  
  You give yourself a few moments to mentally prepare yourself and then head through a door where you see some stairs going up and down. You forgot that there might be a cellar to this place. Hoping that the safe might be down there, you decide to try it first.
  
  The cellar isn't cluttered like you'd think it would be. In fact there isn't much here at all other than a few tables and chair. Though it looks like there are also some shackles and several what could only be torture instruments down here. For deadbeats and others that get on Reynolds' bad side no doubt.
  
  Just as you're about to give up, and resign yourself to searching in the demon's inner sanctum, you spot a small hidden door in the floor. Upon closer inspection, it's definitely a safe of some sort.
  
  "Shit, this isn't even state of the art." You say to yourself and start trying to open it with your regular tools. You don't believe that you're going to be so lucky to find what you're looking for, but when you finally get it open, you're pleasantly surprised.
  
  "Yag is certainly smiling on me today." You say even though you've never been one to place too much stock in the gods, but really is a good stroke of luck. You take the black hexagon container and place it in your bag. Time to leave.
  
  You start walking up the stairs and then suddenly one of the steps breaks and your leg nearly goes through it. It's all you can do to try to hang on to the nearby railing so you don't hurt yourself any further even though you still take a tumble backwards. You're just lucky you didn't break your leg or your neck, though you aren't so lucky in that you were completely silent since you did shout in pain briefly before stopping yourself, not to mention all the other noise.
  
  You're sure that probably got Mr. Reynolds' attention. If he wasn't awake now, he is now.
  
  You quickly stand up from the bottom of the basement stairs and already hear noise coming from above your location.
  
  "I hope this works." You say and take out one of the invisibility potions and drink it. You feel a strange sensation and half think that you're going to fall down the stairs from the temporary wooziness. (Though maybe some of that is from the fall)
  
  You look at yourself, and don't see any difference. You can't even tell if it's working.
  
  You're about to make your way back up the stairs, but then that's when you see a figure standing at the top of them. Mr. Reynolds is there with what looks to be a musket.
  
  "I know someone's down here, you might as well come out now and make this quick."
  
  He's aiming downward, but hasn't shot you yet. It's a clear line of sight so the potion must definitely be working. However he's in the way and you aren't going to get past him as he makes his way cautiously down.
  
  You back up deeper into the basement and figure you might be able to sneak around him. The problem is he isn't moving much further in and is now just standing near the bottom of the stairs pointing his weapon into the darkness.
  
  You probably could sneak by him or maybe you could just shoot him with the pistol you acquired, but your immediate concern is staying invisible since you're sure that your time on that is about to run out. You take another potion and chug the contents.
  
  No sooner have you done so when you start to feel incredibly sick to the point where you actually feel a cramping in your stomach. Yvette wasn't joking about how quickly these can cause sickness when drunk immediately after each other.
  
  You try to prevent yourself from retching and begin to go for your pistol since you know you're going to give your position away by making retching noises.
  
  You unsteadily fire at Reynolds and hit him just before your vomit all over the floor. You hover over your own puddle of sick gagging and not really noticing if you actually killed Reynolds or not.
  
  At least not until feel the impact of a shot go into your face causing you to fall backwards.
  
  Somehow you're still alive, but between the pain and the sickness of the potion, you end up falling unconscious.
  
  Eventually your wake up and find yourself tied firmly to a chair. Your still have a slightly queasy feeling, your face still hurts very badly and you can only see out of one eye.
  
  But all of that is the least of your problems when you see the blurry image of Mr. Reynolds standing nearby next to the table full of torture instruments.
  
  "Glad you're finally awake. Now we can get started. You know, you really are a spitting image of your father... well except for the new hole in your face. How is he doing anyway?" Mr. Reynolds says.
  "Mgh, wai... t... gh... " is about all you can groan right now.
  
  "Well, doesn't matter I suppose. I'll find out everything I need to in a day or so I imagine. Not that I really need to since I already know you're working for Franklins. I swear that old hypocrite couldn't do something himself so he gets his lowly son in law to do it for him. If I were in your position I'd be really pissed at him right now. This is all his fault you know. He seems to think because of my heritage that I have some sinister plan for this city when that's far from the truth. All I want to see is it to achieve its fullest potential."
  "Ple... ase... I... won't... "
  "Won't what? Tell anyone you were here? Tell Franklins? Get revenge? Of course you won't because you won't be leaving here alive. Really the only reason you're still breathing is because I want to find out a few more things about your loved ones before you die. You committed a crime against me. Not only did you shoot me in the fucking shoulder, but you tried to steal some very personal and valuable property. Now I'm going to take EVERYTHING from you. I know you have a wife and daughter. They will be easy enough to find, though I can imagine Franklins will realize with your disappearance that something has gone wrong and will do everything in his power to protect them, so it might not be easy to get to them first. So let's start with your parents and their whereabouts... oh I do hope they are still alive... "
  
  Mr. Reynolds begins his torture and you try to hold out for as long as you can, but eventually you fail and tell him everything.
  
  Your failure unfortunately still doesn't involve your immediate death. Mr. Reynolds keeps you alive in his basement where eventually his son (who gets out of being in militia custody) takes over the routine torture and he's not as nice as his father was... 
  
  You are completely broken by the time Reynolds tosses your mother and fathers' heads at you. You never thought you'd see them again, and certainly not like this.
  
  You don't even have any tears left to grieve.
  
  It is a small mercy that your body just gives out before Reynolds can do the same to your wife and daughter.