The Demon was, unfortunately, unable to find an icebox within the city. A shame, he figured Ice wouldn't be a problem where Magic was concerned, He'd have to add it to the list of things he was thinking of. Something that was ever-growing.
He returned to his squalor home and began preparations. First the lantern.
He took the metal oil lamp and lit it by sticking a long match into the heat of the ever-burning fireplace, once the lamp was struck and giving off a brilliant, albeit foreboding light, he set it on the floor and out of the way. He then reached into nothing and brought out a small silvered box, which he set down on the chair. Taking a sigh, He Clapped his hands together suddenly and extinguished the flame, leaving a Wailing sound and the distinct smell of brimstone behind.
The long-dead ashes of spent logs hung there bare, like a creature stripped of flesh with its bones on display in a museum. Inspecting the fireplace closer, he turned over the crumbling remains and poked about the ashes before sighing relief.
"Ahh, there, The most Dangerous task out of the way. Can't let a single spark or coal escape me. Then I'd be in hot oil for sure." Then he remembered he was alone and waved off his comment.
He then picked up and opened the silver box, examined its contents, and drew a brush. He walked to the bookshelf and found a good spot on the wood. With a whispering tone, he repeated a name only a select few Demons and the Almighty himself knew of and started painting a simple scraggly and jagged line.
When he'd finished his signature, the shelf and all its contents disappeared in the shadows, drawn there by unseen hands and resounding of whispered chuckles. Next, he made his way to the Large chair. Tipped it over gently and began painting the bottom of it with the same brush strokes.
When finished, It too snapped away into the dark, sinking like a stone in a pond, the only sound being that of ruffled curtains. He moved next to the secretary's desk and signed his demonic name onto the side of the wooden cabinet. Watched the little workstation vanish as the ink dried.
He then surveyed what was left of the furniture and then opened a different pocket, taking the little table in the hallway and thrusting it into the shadows without so much as a second thought. Thought without signage, it would be ground down into sawdust by the forced transition.
He glanced at the wall hooks, decided he hated them and resigned them to the same treatment. Blasted to pieces and scuppered across his hellish garden, he hoped those weren't brass hooks. That would be terrible for his precious Marigolds.
He continued to do this, deciding for or against the limited items within the home until the place was empty, save for the lamp and the hell flame stuck inside it. He would have to move that by hand. Couldn't risk it getting stuck in something or worse.
He gently picked up the lantern and excused himself. Leaving the iron key hanging on a bare nail for the next owner. Then closed the door behind him in a hasty goodbye. Being sure to lock it is also, a trivial thing when one has magic.
Returning to City Hall, he finalized some simple paperwork and allowed himself the honor of the final closing, Hearing the stamp touch the paper with a solid thump He did get a few strange looks for carrying a lit lamp with him in broad daylight, but no one bothered him about it so he let the matter rest.
The clerk girl from earlier caught his eye and he made a note of learning her name if he had any more business here, which could be useful in navigating the legal mess around here.
Other than that, He headed straight over to his new abode, and cheerfully kicked the door in.
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An old Demonic tradition of claiming one's territory. And it did have a rather smashing sound to it. He glanced around and took in a deeply satisfying breath.
He viewed his new home with glee. He couldn't wait to get started on the full list of ideas in his mind. Chief on his list, however, was tearing out that terrible green wallpaper.
Tossing the Lantern inside of the simple iron stove with a crash of breaking glass and clamorous metal, he felt the kindling light ablaze inside as the malicious fire grew to enfold its new home.
He took in the air and rubbed his hands together, It was starting to feel like home already.
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The dark shadow of a cunning mind reflected in the mismatched eyes of gold and emerald as the presence of a shadow padded softly through the night, the prime of dacoit desires dancing in the night.
Stepping out into the night and passing unnoticed as the moon learned over the captive and twisted forms of empty streets and long sharpened shadows stretching into the sibilant silence. The flap of a silky coat as the smooth slinking form slipped across the dry stones and settled under the steps of a small sequestered shop, quiet and safe from all spiteful intentions
Save for the side alley and the open window a becoming sign of safe passage for this humble sneak thief, stealing away on a soft night such as this. Stealthy and with some struggle the subtle sphinx scampered its way through the unsecured split aperture.
The smell of sausages and other foodstuffs filled the searcher's sharp nose as his small frame squeezed its way into the simple abode of the shopkeeper. Sensing about for the item of its sojourn, its keen sensual powers select the subject of choice from amid the sundry spices hanging in the air.
And it didn't even require a spell to summon forthwith. A simple pleasure of such a scope of sensitivities. These keen slivers of silk could even feel the supple steps of the assailant standing just beside---
oh no.
Darwin's focus slipped from his pretense of ease as the large growling white Persian leaped from behind a large sack and onto Darwin's back. His whiskers shouting a warning too late to be of use. to him now as they each tumbled out of control with hissing shouts and screeching cries, clawing at each other for dominance in the rolling duel of fur and blood.
Darwin let loose a burst of intense hatred and launched his ambusher to the side, the force ejecting them both towards opposite sides of the room. The two creatures got an eye full of each other.
The White Persian stepped into the dim light of the moon, the soft beams catching in its fur, making it appear larger and more regal. A thin scar across its nose marked him as a warrior and a proud one at that. The white form gave a gruff hiss as it watched him carefully. Imperiously judging his actions.
Darwin's fury grew at being looked down on by this simple beast, with no mind or even magic to speak of. Merely a poofy butchers' cat, and likely too lazy to do anything except chase itself silly. Darwin figured this fight could be settled with a single thought, a minor exertion of power.
He exhaled a breath, the strange sound whistling in the air as he exuded his powers toward this opponent. A simple command to cull his aggression, and demand of submission, not spoken but felt.
Then a surprise, the imperious gaze of the White Persian snapped to, focused and wrathful. It started to growl, not hiss. And crouched downwards to lunge.
Darwin was confused, That should have worked. Most animals wouldn't the fortitude to withstand such a force. It should be cowering in fear, curled up in a corner. Unless his powers were weaker than he thought. The damned body couldn't handle the load, he'd have to find a way to fix that-
Oh right, he'd left his 'magic' at home.
His opponent had given him no time to ponder and had seized the initiative to strike, lunging at him once again. The White blur struck him in the side and as they tumbled into the back of the shelf, a wadded screaming mass of opposing forces and fur.
Darwin slashed and eventually bit, but one thing was now abundantly clear, this was no duel, this was a fight. A brutal ugly thing that held no room for honor or tact. It was an appalling realization and one that cost him dearly as the White monster raked its claws against his ribs and made him yowl.
Darwin got lucky when his legs snapped out and kicked away his opponent.
As the small tiger whirled to face him, the black creature had leaped and taken off with some of the sausages left hanging to dry and was bounding towards an open window to make his exit.
The white feline growled and hissed in protest and leaped up to stop him. Pouncing to catch him in the side. The black monster whirled at the last second to catch the chain of pilfered meat, battered aside as the two had dueled, once retrieved He absconded into the night with his prize and nary a second thought as to his honor or dignity
The hissing war cries of the White Persian echoed into the night.