"Welcome to Seattle, I'm Lammia," Lammia said in a nasal voice.

Val looked at the tall and thin dark woman. Her black hair was pulled back into a severe bun, and she wore large tortoiseshell glasses that she pushed up the bridge of her nose. She was wearing a professional white blouse tucked into a black pencil skirt. The heels of her black stilettos clacked against the white tiles as she turned and walked to open the double doors behind a glass semicircular desk.

"Come now, Meg doesn't like to be kept waiting," Lammia said impatiently.

Still reeling at the change of scenery, she walked across the floor to the doors. Her worn combat boots made a clomping noise compared to Lammia's heels, making her feel like a bull in a China shop. She wasn't sure what she had been expecting but it wasn't the plump woman wearing an apron.

Megargdue's rosy cheeks and chipper appearance belied her demon heritage. Her frazzled curly brown hair made her look like she was a doting mother just plucked out of a kitchen mid-pie bake. Valrul suspected the streak of white on her cheek might be flour.

"Welcome to Nannys'R'Us, please call me Meg," Meg said warmly. "Hmm, a change of clothes is in order I think."

Val looked down at her black robes. She had not thought to pack, had not been given the chance really. Apprentices were usually afforded more time to prep for their roles after they were assigned.

"That is probably my fault, I expedited your assignment," Meg said as she snapped her fingers like Belias had. "Much better, your hair is glorious dear, why would you have it cut so short?"

"It gets in the way less," Val said defensively.

Val had trained hard during her years at the Academy. She had contemplated following her brothers into military service but had decided her true calling was in the torture department.

"Yes, well. It may be a little alarming for the client," Meg said as she waved a finger like a magical wand. "Much better, don't you agree?"

Another snap and a mirror appeared before her. Val stared in amazement at the transformation. Long soft blond curls draped over her shoulders. The ambiguous black robe was replaced by a long sleeve light blue button down shirt that accentuated the curve of her breasts and small waistline. The shirt was tucked into dark jeans that hugged her hips with a gold chain belt. Under the cuff of her jeans, brown suede boots peaked out and she turned a foot to see a slight heel.

"Can we slow down a minute, I think there has been a mistake," Val objected.

"I doubt that," Meg said.

The mirror disappeared and she gave an approving nod. Meg picked up a tablet from her desk and punched it with her fingers a few times. Setting it back down, she grabbed a cup with a printed black flag with a skull and cross bones on it.

"I'm supposed to apprentice in torture," Val tried to clarify.

Meg looked up at her blankly before looking to Lammia for confirmation. Lammia looked quickly at the tablet she had been holding to her chest before nodding affirmation.

"Valrul, top of her class for torture, exceptional aptitude for psychological torture. Application for torture apprenticeship approved. Assigned to Megargdue effective immediately," Lammia rattled.

"That was what I thought. Thank you Lammia," Meg said before returning her attention to Val. "Are you not Valrul?"

"I am but..." Val started.

"Then you are in the correct place," Meg cut her off. "You'll go by Val in the human world. This apprenticeship is not for the faint of heart. Only the best of the best of the best make it here."

"Babysitting children?" Val squeaked.

"Oh honey," Meg crooned. "There are no better teachers on psychological terror than small children."

Val choked out a laugh. This absolutely had to be a joke, her siblings playing a prank on her. She would show them.

"This has been fun and all, but if you could just send me back now for my real assignment, I'd appreciate it," Val said blithely.

Meg grabbed a tablet off her desk and walked over to Val. She handed it to Val, and she looked down to see the apprenticeship agreement. She noticed immediately the part stating that any apprentice who voluntarily declined their assignment would be removed from their current department and reassigned based on the needs of Hell.

"You are more than welcome to decline of course but you will be permanently barred from the torture department. I would not recommend it, but that is your choice," Meg said bluntly.

Dread seeped into Val as she began to realize this was real. It could not be that bad, they were just kids after all. She would see this through, check all the boxes, and be back in Hell in record time.

"I'll do it," Val said.

"Great, read through the terms and agree at the bottom then put your thumb on the pad for authentication," Meg said on a clap.

A large suitcase appeared next to her as she pressed her thumb to the button. A sharp piercing had her pulling away her thumb to see a drop of blood. She watched as the document added in her blood stained print for a signature.

"That is your tablet," Lammia said. "The rulebook is on there if you need a reference. It also has the details for the client and your background profile. There will be weekly check-ins with Meg until your apprenticeship is completed."

"And here is your purse with your ID, bank card, phone, lipstick, and emergency tampon. All the basics to get you going. Have fun now dear," Meg said as she ushered Val out. "And say hello to Mr. Smith for me."

Val was at a loss for words as Lammia ushered her out of Meg's office. She looked over her shoulder to see Meg waving cheerfully as she sipped from her cup. The world felt surreal as they stopped in front of the elevator.

"Do you know how to use this?" Lammia asked her.

Val shook her head as she stared at the doors blankly. Noticing two round buttons on the side with triangles pointing up and down, she took a guess. She reached out and touched the triangle pointing up and was delighted when it depressed and lit up.

"Quick on the uptake, I like it?" Lammia complimented.

Val gave her a shy smile as she started to feel more confident. Despite Lammia's no-nonsense appearance, there was a warmth and kindness she exuded.

"Make sure you set the expectations with Mr. Smith immediately," Lammia instructed. "Otherwise, he'll walk all over you."

Val nodded her thanks for the advice. She was in uncharted territory here and could use all she could get.

"What about the children?" Val asked.

The elevator doors slid open, and Val stepped into the box, suitcase in tow. She looked at the panel with several buttons next to the numbers. Lammia reached in and slid a key in a slot and pushed the button next to the number forty.

"Just try to remember what it was like to be a kid yourself, and how you wanted to be treated," Lammia coached. "Some floors are restricted, so you need the key to operate it."

Val was jittery as the doors slid closed and the floor suddenly moved. She clutched onto the handrail and looked at the tablet in her hand. She could do this, she told herself as she perused the profiles.

Lammia stood at the closed doors for a moment as she let out her breath. She hoped this one lasted longer for the children's sake. The kids had been put through the wringer since their mother had disappeared.

Lammia walked back to Meg's office to see her flitting about. Lammia knew her nerves were tied in knots as well. She walked over to her partner and pulled her into her arms, stroking her hair in comfort.

"Stop stressing my sweet temptress," Lammia coaxed. "None of the others were able to sense the children are cambion, this one won't either."

Meg relaxed into Lammia's embrace and wrapped her arms around her waist.

"I know. I would just feel better about it if we knew why," Meg admitted. "More, I wish I knew what happened to my daughter."

"They haven't given up on Emi yet and neither will we," Lammia assured.

Meg stepped back from the comfort of Lammia's arms to begin pacing again.

"There is more to that man than we know. I understand we had to cover our bases with the proxy divorce proceedings, but something is off," Meg stated.

"We've been over this a thousand times," Lammia reminded her. "Emi never found any proof that Alexander was involved with the lycans, or anything beyond the human world."

"Then trust in Lucifer," Lammia suggested. "He wouldn't have stepped in to oversee the children if he didn't have a purpose for it."

Meg's nod was disgruntled. She wished she was privy to whatever his plans were. She wanted more than anything to have her daughter back. She wished she had never let her go on her assignment to spy on Alexander. She had two lovely grandchildren out of it, but she had lost a daughter.