Dammit dammit dammit dammit dammit.

The chill rose over his fingers, magic ready to strike if need be. How was it possible? He'd been so careful. So precise. He'd never sensed followers in pursuit. He'd taken the tunnels. Watched for assassins. Nothing even came close to the junkyard without him knowing about it. So why? Why was the same woman who tried to assault his kingdom appearing in his place of business? Why was she smiling at him like they were old friends? When did she find out? How did she? Questions piled up one after another.

Dammit dammit dammit.

He had an escape plan ready, though it was supposed to be for the worst-case scenario. Perhaps it was already time.

"Mr. Justin?"

He came out of his thoughts, finding the counter woman looking at him expectingly. As was the boy at her side, a patient who he'd had a bit of interaction with throughout his shifts. The human Thomas. He smiled wide, his brown eyes shining.

"Justin, you missed it," he said. "I just crushed Lisa's score. Check it out."

He turned his screen over, the monitor showing what looked to be Earthen text. The words and numbers meant nothing to Luizitine, but he did recognize the sounds coming from the machine. The humans referred to such tools as video games. Dude had an entire collection of them, of which he'd been more than willing to lend the hellspawn for study. Such devices were still an enigma to figure out.

"Oh. Yes." He looked from the screen to Lisa. She had made no moves to attack him. Yet. "I wasn't aware you and...Lisa...were acquainted."

The counterwoman smirked. "I take it I didn't make the best impression with you, did I?"

"Huh?"

Lisa leaned against the bed, a hand resting against her cheek.

"You know each other?" Thomas asked.

"In a way."

Luizitine froze, gaze darting to the window. Dammit. Time to move. He channeled magic to his hand.

"I won't tell if you don't."

His thoughts dropped away, along with the spell.

What? Did I hear that correctly?

Lisa offered a wink, the counter woman turning her attention back to Thomas and the video game.

"And for the record, you only won this round, Tommy," she said. "The battle's not over yet."

The boy grinned. "Bring it, loser." He pushed over the controlling device, the video game starting over for another session.

It wasn't a mistake, was it? The counterwoman leaned forward in her chair, full focus rising onto the television screen. She wasn't even throwing up a protection spell to dissuade him. Or using any charms. Luizitne stared long at the woman. She's not here to attack me? But then, why is she here then? He glanced back to the screen, the digital recreations of undead being slaughtered by the hundreds. Part of him wondered if it was an intimidation tactic, but he could tell by how Thomas reacted they were only playing the part of hunters.

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Whatever was happening, it didn't seem he was in immediate danger. He cautiously approached the two, though he made sure to keep his distance. Even going so far as to pick up a rag to do some cleaning. Even as the counterwoman's character died, he sensed no hostility from her.

"That's two for me, loser," Thomas said.

"I was just warming up. Next one I'll-" Lisa jumped. "Oh, I almost forgot. Justin."

He tensed, though the human still had the appearance of friendliness. In fact, as he looked closer, he realized just how unarmed she was. She looked a lot smaller than she had at the junkyard. Was it to appear less threatening? To what end?

"Yes?" he asked.

She handed the controller to Thomas, who immediately started a new game, sounds of undead slaughter filling the room.

"About that first meeting," Lisa said. "The Mayor would like you to know he harbors no ill will towards you, specifically. Nor I."

He stopped cleaning.

"Tupwell?" he asked.

"He's been...well...occupied as of yet." She brushed her hair aside. "I guess we both are. But I make it a point to check in with the citizens of Angelas. Especially those affected by its more unusual side."

She reached into her breast pocket, pulling out a small white card. Luizitine's hesitation turned to confusion. Were his ears deceiving him, or was she genuinely trying to be friendly? As if reading his mind, the woman stood up, handing him the card personally.

"Know that you aren't alone, Justin," she said. "If it ever gets too much. Like you think no one in the world would understand. Give me a ring. My ears are always open."

He took the card, its surface having no hints of magical tampering. An ordinary card with a phone number. And a name. Felissa Green. She put a finger to her lips.

"Just don't tell anyone, okay," she said. "Our secret."

She offered one last wink, and then she was returning to the game, of which Thomas was in the process of losing, much to his frustration.

Seeing the paper in his hands was enough to convince Luizitine of Lisa's intentions. She had not in fact come to expose the hellspawn at his place of business. Even so, the fact that she would appear at all wasn't something random either. A warning? No. A message. One that could either turn good or bad depending on how he chose to respond to it. What enemy would willingly offer a means to be in contact? Not any smart ones he knew of.

Our secret, huh?

Was that it? A mutual agreement. She'd keep her mouth shut as long as he kept things in line? Perhaps that was the real reason why the junkyard had been so quiet. Why he hadn't noticed people following him. The mayor was offering a parley in an attempt to dissuade him.

Clever. Very clever.

He shoved the card in his pocket.

"I am grateful, Lisa," he said. "If you'll excuse me, though, I am still on the job."

Justin frowned, the counterwoman offering him a parting wave as he headed for the door. A dangerous woman, indeed. He couldn't afford to let his guard down around her.

Nor could he afford to act too rashly given the mayor's declaration. He doubted it would be honored, but playing along could prove useful. Allow him to build up their strength while the fool assumed they were trying to behave. Surely it would make his eventual takeover all the sweeter. Luizitine smiled as he went to work checking trash cans and changing bedsheets. Yes. We'll behave, my dear mayor. We'll be the most well-behaved demons in the world.

As the rest of his shift moved along, his mind kept returning to the process of upping his kingdom's strength.

***

Tonight was the night. He hid his excitement as he punched out his time card.

"Headed home, Justin?" a nurse asked.

"Just about." He offered a final wave. "Until tomorrow."

She waved back, Luizitine's focus shifting the moment he was outside.

He'd barely taken a step before the smell hit his nostrils. The scent of blood in the air. It was much stronger outside than it had been coming through the windows. He smiled wide.

Yes. Behave. We'll be sure to behave, my dear mayor. We'll be the most behaved demons on Earth.

Looking down at the green smear on the sidewalk, he knew they had to be close. The new recruit who'd help them overthrow the city.

Better hurry before they die.

He quickly headed for the tunnels.