I sat down on my leather chair and opened my drawer. There it was. My lighter glowed in the darkness as I flicked it on and lit my cigarette.

Inhale… exhale.

I could feel the stress leaving my body. Good, I didn't need it right now.

Breathing, it all surrounded me. Humans and their need for oxygen.

Such a petty species…

I heard a pair of lungs approach my room — probably to ask me another monotonous question. My door was opened by one of my men. He wore a black tuxedo and bowed before me.

As he should.

"It's the crack of dawn, sir. Do you always sit in the dark like this?"

"I knew you would say something like that," I said, frustrated.

This one's will is a bit stronger. Naturally, my voice would intimidate any human or entity I came across. This old man couldn't care less.

"Do you have anything important to say?"

He entered the room and placed a sheet of paper on my desk. "Here, boss. I think you're going to want to see this."

I grabbed the paper and scanned it. Two names were written on it, 'V'zulanite and Katie.'

Why would I care about this? And who were these people anyway? I looked up at him and handed it back.

"You gave me a piece of paper with two names on it. Is there any reason why this is important?"

"These are the two that killed D'nah and Thul."

"Killed?" What did he mean? Those two were highly skilled demons. "What brought forth their end?"

"Don't know," he shrugged. "Must be some very skilled humans."

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

"No." I knew it wasn't humans — it couldn't be.

"Perhaps another entity?"

"Yes. Put a hit on these two and get rid of them immediately."

I stood and followed him out of the room and into the brightly lit hallway.

Oval frames of my best men hung on the walls. The best I had. We stepped down a flight of stairs and into a large living room where all my subordinates were. I smelled the smoke and weed that clouded the room. Men playing at pool tables, gambling, and drug usage.

A human, Mackie, approached me.

"Hey, boss. Lookin' good today."

He wore a purple-striped suit and a bowler hat. He is my Consigliere. A human that I trust dearly.

"Your appearance is adequate," I responded, shaking his hand.

He gave me a nod and lit a cigarette. "That's quite the compliment coming from someone who isn't human."

"Be grateful I appreciate your efforts for our family."

This one has followed me for seven years; no treachery and lies have ever left that organic trap of his.

"So," Mackie said. "I assume you were already informed of our deceased couple?"

"It is unfortunate."

They were morons anyway. Yes, it was a shock that they were taken out. That hasn't happened in a long while. Excluding the humans in my syndicate.

"Eh. Don't worry too much about it, boss. We'll get replacements anyway."

I sat on the sofa, sharing it with three other humans — all talking about the recent death.

"Give him some room!" Mackie shouted.

"They can remain as they are, Mackie."

As much as I disliked humans, I will admit: those under me are the ones that I feel some bond with. Not all of them, just the ones that remain loyal.

I snapped my pale fingers and summoned three photos out of thin air. They landed on the white table in front of me. I spread them out and pointed at a man with dark eyes and black skin.

"Mackie."

He approached me, exhaling his cigarette. "Yes, boss?"

"Contact Lyan and have him send a squad to the two that killed my comrades."

"We'll need to know where they live, boss."

"I will take care of that. Just get him notified."

Mackie gave me a nod and exited the building. I leaned back and closed my eyes. I could see it now, humans, spirits, facilities — all in my vision as if I were there.

Well, only the parts of Lana's that had a shadow cast.

I searched through the darkness and checked the location of their death in an attempt to find clues. There. I saw it. The dark essence of a demon. One that was different from my subordinates. It was black and looked like smoke with small purple lights floating in it.

Just like mine… interesting.

I shifted my sight into the smoke and followed the trail through the city. After a minute of tracking the source, I saw a house. The smoke trailed through the front door, up a flight of stairs, and into a bedroom. There they were, a dark-skinned human and a blonde demon masquerading as a woman.

I got up, walked back upstairs into my office, and closed the door behind me. I rang up Mackie and continued to watch them.

"Targets located. I will give you their location. Prepare your mind for information."

I sent him the information mentally. He can handle it. This human's mind is strong enough to do so. They will be dealt with shortly...