"Holy Magic?"

Luizitine nodded, still looking over the sweets the Mayor's assistant had packed. None seemed poisonous as Gingee devoured the bag whole without showing any adverse effects. As he expected. It didn't seem the duo saw him as a threat at the moment. To the outside world, he was still Justin the Human.

"But I'm supposed to be dead," Karla said. "I'm not supposed to feel anything."

"The dead can still be destroyed like any other creature," Luiztine explained. "You may not bleed, but you're far from invincible. Neither am I. A strong enough holy spell could annihilate us both."

Karla slumped to the ground in defeat.

When he'd returned to the junkyard, he'd found both her and Gingee waiting. The army of construction workers was nowhere in sight, though he did notice they'd left their vehicles behind, several of which were covered in drool and bite marks. Gingee was chewing on a torn-off claw appendage as the two of them discussed their failed negotiation.

"But I'm already dead," Karla said. "What happens if I die again?"

"Death for an undead means soul destruction. Your soul is tied to your being. If that soul dies, there's no longer a 'you' to be. You'll be lost to the void."

"Then if she kills me...I'll really be gone?"

He looked up to Karla, who thankfully wasn't taking his words for naught.

In truth, there was no peace in store for a soul who perished as a phantom. Whether human, demon, or some other creature, when an undead was destroyed, their essence was removed from the cycle. They would cease to exist, a fate he'd seen many minions befall over the years. Karla would be no exception.

She had to realize the danger now. Given how easily the counterwoman used her spell, he had little doubt she could have killed Karla if she wished. The only reason the ghost remained in the astral plane was because she was given a warning. An ultimatum to leave the junkyard or perish. No matter how foolhardy she might have been, she would have been truly foolish to-

"Guess I'll die then."

The hellspawn blinked.

"E-excuse me?"

Karla brushed her translucent hair aside, flashing a warm smile.

"If that witch wants my home, she's gonna have to pry it from my cold, dead hands," the ghost girl said. "I'm not going anywhere."

Luizitine gave Karla a long look, hoping it would be enough for her to reconsider. She did not.

"You said it yourself, right? This is my junkyard. I should have a say in how it's run. And I say no outsiders allowed unless they wanna be demon food. Am I right, Gingee?"

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

To the hellspawn's horror, the demonling jumped up, tail wagging behind them.

"Bark! I stand with ghost friend. I like eating outsiders. Bark."

"That's my demon pup!"

They both looked to Luizitine expectingly, the hellspawn once again cursing his choice of minions. Were they truly so touched in their heads they didn't realize the gravity of the situation?

The Mayor of Angelas had just issued a declaration of war against the junkyard. The man clearly stated his intentions to take over and reshape their hunting grounds into something more palatable to the rest of the humans. Even if he hated the idea of giving up his precious land, they lacked the resources to fend off whatever forces the humans might have at their disposal. Especially if they were all as powerful as the counterwoman.

No. The way things were, the wisest course of action was to bide their time. Abandon the junkyard even. Perhaps in time they could try to retake it, but that was only after they were better prepared. After they had more soldiers.

"We can't fight the mayor," he said. "Not yet."

Both Karla and Gingee deflated. Luizitne sighed, taking a moment to gather his words so the two could truly understand.

"There are only three of us in this army," he said. "If the Mayor has a vendetta against this place, we mustn't be so rash as to call his bluff. If we invite the wrath of this world's forces, neither you nor I will survive."

"But you're a friggin' demon'," Karla said.

"A demon who can easily be killed by a holy dagger to the neck just as you could. I don't wish to die any more than you do, spirit. And I've lived enough lives to know it's better to be patient. Especially knowing how fragile my subordinates tend to be."

Karla frowned at that, but Luizine didn't relent. It was the truth. Every time his empires fell he wouldn't be the one at the forefront. There would always be a cascade of loyal servants who had to perish before he finally reincarnated. Enough to fill the entirety of the underworld. Enough to know there was no planet in the cycle he'd ever truly be free of Death. He'd only delay them as long as he could.

"Gingee," he said. "Change of plans. We're finding a new hunting grounds."

"What?"

He shot Karla a look of warning, the spirit tensing at the cold demonic gaze. He hated to have to use it on her, but it was better she learned to fall in line sooner than later. She looked away, Luizitne relaxing as his eyes returned to normal. He motioned for the exit.

Gingee didn't move.

"Minion Gingee," he said.

The demonling remained rooted to the ground.

"Bark. I wish to help spirit friend, Master. Bark."

The demonic glare returned, his original voice booming as he spoke.

"That's an order," he said. "We're leaving the junkyard, Gingee. Now OBEY!"

As his eyes flashed, the demonling's body twitched. Their four sets of eyes took on the same white glow as his, tail seizing up. But as it did, so too did the giant demon raise a paw into the air. It slammed the ground hard, a crater of dirt resting under it. Gingee's usual monotone voice amplified.

"I am helping spirit friend," Gingee said.

The glow disappeared, Luizitne's eyes returning to normal as well as he stared back at his minion.

It resisted? Now?

Gingee immediately turned to Karla, who looked between the two with an uneasy expression. For her, the Obey spell would have worked fine. But to have to go so far as using it twice on his allies...Luizitine shook his head.

"Fine," he said. "You fools can do as you wish. I want no part in this."

Gingee looked his way, but the hellspawn was already washing his hands of the situation. If they wanted to die so badly, they could be his guests. He'd done his part as ruler by ordering them to stand down. If they still wished to fight anyhow, that was their business. But he had no intention of watching more minions die in front of him.

"Bark. Master?"

He ignored the whimpered call, climbing over a torn-apart vehicle and making his way back to the apartment. He'd start over after they were out of the picture.

Dammit, Gingee.

He locked his gaze forward, his steps increasing.