In this world, there were three kinds of entities. Those who were living, those who were dead, and those who skirted the line between the two. Alice never knew where she stood on the spectrum given she’d lived more lives than she even knew about. If she died in a car accident, she’d wake up in a new body somewhere far away. Maybe it would be a new world. More likely it would be the same one given the connection she had with a certain bloodthirsty demon.

As long as he was out there somewhere, she’d have to kill him. As long as she existed, he could never be truly killed. It was the burden etched on both their souls. They would forever be in conflict. Forever bound to wage war against each other until the end of time. Those were the rules according to her books.

Alice knew all that. She knew that one day she’d be forced to reunite with the demon counterpart to her wizard soul. She’d always hoped it would be in another life. Another body. Someone else’s problem to deal with. But as she read the news, that dream felt more and more like a fairytale.

This thing. It’s a demonling, isn't it? That would explain why it was so strong.

She stared at her phone, scrolling through the headlines as her instructor drolled on and on about statistics. It was all review material. Most of it she’d read through while being stuck on 24-hour watch duty. It wasn’t like she had much else to do given what few friends she had were all afraid of Dad’s goons.

Even as she was sitting in class, there were agents surrounding her. They were all dressed as regular students, some blending in better than others. But even if they looked like civilians, most of the student body knew not to risk it. One slip of the tongue and they’d have an army of guards at their throats. At least, that's what she assumed went through the many frightened gazes. She stopped paying attention, her bushy brows furrowing as she kept reading.

A city blackout. Sounds like dark magic. But...No. Let's not jump to conclusions, Alice. It’s probably fine. It could just be some low-level demon that got lucky. If he was really back, I’d…

She’d sense it. If her magic wasn’t turned off. If he was really using his dark spells. As she was, she could barely feel her own powers, let alone a demon’s.

Dammit.

She moved down the article, staring at the police sketch once more. The black mass of fur was unmistakably canine. Not a hellspawn. A devildog, maybe? They were rare outside the underworld, but one appearing wouldn’t have been a stretch. Still, devildogs rarely hunted alone.

If there was a pack, the PIB would know about it. They wouldn't overlook something like that. And if they were involved, they'd take care of things. She was just getting worked up over nothing.

Yeah. Relax. The mages got it. Worst-case scenario I'm right, and he gets his head blown up. That'll delay him for a lifetime at least. I can work with that. Everything's gonna be fine.

She tried to smile at her own reassuring thoughts. Her lips didn't move.

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Dammit.

She shut her phone, forcing herself to focus on the boring math lecture.

***

It was a short-lived reprieve.

“Screw it! Need a drink!”

She slammed the button on the vending machine, watching her drink trickle down as the uneasy feeling in her chest only magnified by the time class was over. No matter how much she tried to prune the thoughts from her brain, her head refused to shut up.

Okay. So what if it is him? So what? I've still got time. It's not like he's attacking me. He hasn't attacked. He won't. Not ye-

The sound of a can dropping down drew her away. She popped it open, chugging down coffee-flavored soda. It had neither the shock nor the sweet warmth that liquor gave her, but it tasted so bad it gave her senses a slight jolt. She wiped her mouth, taking a moment to gather her thoughts.

“Hey you,” she said to one of the many agents nearby. She never bothered to learn their names. “If I get attacked by a random thing, you’re gonna protect me, right?”

“That is part of the job, ma’am,” he said.

“We’re here to watch and to protect, Ms. Alice,” said another.

“And what if it’s some kind of monster?” she asked. “If worse comes to worse, did Dad give you the off switch to this stupid chip? I can’t fight without my powers.”

“Should we falter, we will ensure your survival, Ms. Alice. Without using your holy magic.”

Which is code for no. Son of a- She slid her card again, retrieving an even blander coffee-soda from the machine. I swear if I get attacked, I’m letting all six of you get killed. Least then I’ll die happy.

That thought brought a genuine smile. One that made the prospect of restarting the cycle more palatable. That was, assuming she was killed quickly. She had no memories of her past lives, but the books told her some had died more gruesomely than others.

“Dammit.”

“If it helps things,” one agent said, “we could acquire charms to ward off danger.”

She stopped drinking. “Charms? What? Dad didn’t take those away?”

“He did. The mages convinced him to allow for department access. Grounded or not, you are still humanity’s greatest hope for salvation.”

“Oh. Funny how no one acts like it.”

She finished off her coffee, tossing the empty bottle into a nearby receptacle. She doubted a charm would do much against a hellspawn, but it was better to have something than nothing.

She didn't have many facts to go on. The black dog was only a rumor so far as the news was concerned. But if there was even a chance he was involved, she knew she had to be careful. If worse came to worse, he'd kill her in a heartbeat without holy magic for defense. Charms would at least allow her to buy time. Or get her killed faster.

“Crap,” she said. “Fine. But I’m still not joining up. I got better things to do than go ghost hunting.”

“Such as?”

She was heading for the exit, but she whipped around at the retort. Every agent conveniently had their heads turned the other way. Friggin’ robots. She huffed, pulling out her phone and sending a quick text to a mage contact.

The local PIB department wasn’t a long walk from the college, but she knew Dad’s lapdogs wouldn’t let her make the trip on foot. All she could do was warn the mages she was coming. At least then she’d minimize the freak-out.