I walked up the street, waiting for Elben. He had been a friend of Devis, a close friend. Did he know he was dead? Had news reached him? I fiddled with the blood that had started to dry on my hands, finding solace in the familiarity of the sticky liquid. Nothing like a good torture session for some grounding. It keep me out of my head, locking me in the present. I could lose myself in carving, not forced to feel all the confusing things that kept overwhelming my brain.

In place of Elben, there was a woman with a large hat, leaning against the building, smoking a cigarette. She wore a classic hoop skirt adorned with black lace and red detail. It was low cut, showcasing her rather large breasts. A whore perhaps? But why would she be out in the mid morning? Typically the lady's of the night only came out after sun set. I couldn't have her listening in on my and Elben's conversation.

"Miss, you need to leave," I stated, coming up beside her.

She tilted her hat up, looking me over with deep brown eyes that held a tint of red. "On whose orders? Yours?" Blowing smoke in my face, she smiled. "I don't listen to strangers." The woman grabbed my arm roughly, pulling me in close. "Zendar I presume?"

I put my sword to her throat. "Depends on who's asking."

"I'm the contact, part of the demons against Tragore," she whispered softly. "My name is Aayla." A pink smoke came out of her mouth, creating an odd state of calm.

I shook it off. No magic would be allowed to manipulate me. "I was supposed to meet Elben, you're not Elben."

"Elben had an. . . Accident." Aayla doesn't seem concerned in the slightest at the blade on her throat. She blew more smoke in Zendar's face, making him cough. "Most unfortunate really, he was such a nice demon. Can't trust most characters these days."

"How do I know you are who you say you are?" I didn't remove my sword from her throat, I pressed it in, drawing black blood. She was a demon, that much was true, but she didn't appear as most of the demons I had encountered, she appeared vastly human with dark hair and pale skin that contrasted greatly. It was pinned up elegantly as if she were a Lady. "Prove yourself."

Aayla smiled and handed him the dagger that Devis had spoken of. "I have exactly what you requested. Elben couldn't find it, but I did."

Staring for a moment, I held the daggers handle tightly in my palm. The jagged blade was old and could use some sharpening but was in otherwise good condition. "How?" Devis had said Tragore kept this on himself, which means somehow this she demon had managed to get under his defenses and strip him of the one thing that could kill him. That wasn't a simple feat, it was dangerous, most would've perished, but not her. "Why?"

"I have my ways," Aayla said with a wink as she blew pink smoke, surrounding him in a cloud. "Trust me, when I want something, there's nothing that will stop me from getting it." She frowned, her eyes sparking with anger. "I want the old man dead just as much as you do, hell would be better off without him in leadership. He's weak, he doesn't deserve the title he was granted by blood."

Many questions swirled in Zendar's head, but he could feel Falosa coming to the forefront. He was running out of time. He needed to get back to the mansion before Falosa came back. "Will I see you again?" Something about her was intriguing, tantalizing. He had to know more.

Aayla gave him a card with a six pointed star. "Any time you want to talk, summon me."

I looked down on at the card. Aayla Helsmire. Succubus. "You're a succubus?" No wonder her cloud of pink smoke was so potent and powerful. Imagine what would've happened if he hadn't been able to shake it off. He had heard tales of their powers, but seeing it in action was something else.

"My services don't come without a price, but I'm very good at what I do," Aayla stated as she ran a finger down my arm, making me shiver at her touch. She turned to leave. "I'll be seeing you around, Z. . ." She paused, turning just her head. "When you kill Tragore, make it slow. He deserves only the worst of deaths. Do it for me, will you?"

I nodded, wishing she wouldn't go, wishing I had time to stay. There was this odd feeling in my chest at the sight of her. Perhaps it was simply curiosity, or envy, I couldn't place it.

Teleporting back to the mansion, I ended up in the hall. Jalin and Geayu stood waiting for me, anger clearly written on their faces.

"Oh, we meet again! I suppose now would be a good time to thank me for saving your lives."

Geayu narrowed his eyes. "We need to talk."

Ah, why is this so short?
Transition chapter my lovelies.
Wonder what Geayu is going to talk about. . .
Nothing good, clearly.
N.G.Brier