Ice and wind blew through the station’s lobby, taking out a chunk of the lower levels in the process. Of which Alice knew she’d get blamed for, but at the point, she didn’t really care. If Dad didn’t want her blowing stuff up, he shouldn’t have sent her to a small enclosed area with all her magic reactivated. And he especially shouldn’t have sent so many people who’d just get in her way.

“Minion Gingee. Are you alright?”

She frowned at the hellspawn’s voice. Maybe it was too much to hope an attack like that would wipe him. He did apparently have centuries of experience fighting her. Or at least, the part of her they all cared about. As the icy mist faded, Alice spotted the demon Luizitine relatively unscathed from the assault, even his suit being clean and free of tears. The same could not be said for his lackey.

Though it had all happened in a blur, it was hard not to notice the giant black form dashing out and curling into a ball around the others. A demonic shield which seemed to have taken on the brute of the icy blast, the devildog’s fur partially bleeding even as it attempted to stand up straight, unfurling from around the other two monsters.

“Bark. I kept them safe, Master.”

Having seen the monster take on a squad of mages and break out of a paralysis trap, Alice could only assume the creature was Luizitine’s second in command. The general. The leader of his forces, wherever the rest of them happened to be. Though she only knew of three lackeys under Luizitine’s banner, she wouldn’t put it past an immortal demon to have multiple shadowy groups on reserve.

Still, so long as she killed the head, the rest would be easy enough to take out.

“Gingee, you’ve done your part,” Luizitine said. “Karla! Jeffrey!”

The ghost and reptile came out from the devildog’s grasp, both immediately charging Alice, though she already had a hand up ready to blow them away.

“Spirit of-“

A wall of magic appeared in front of her, both creatures stopping in their tracks.

Alice whipped around, finally remembering the other mages with her. As Uncle Brown halted the two monsters, the soldiers came out from their protective barriers to open fire, which seemed to spur the ghost and reptile into backing off.

“Focus fire on the servants!”

It was Dad’s voice, Alice spotting him near the entrance along with Felissa, who she saw gathering magic around the area’s perimeter. Her shaky hands aside, she at least seemed able to focus on the containment aspect of her job. The only reason Dad really bothered to come along despite the dangers of being so near demonic activity.

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Someone had to oversee the whole operation. And she knew better than to hope he’d trust her.

“Alice, focus on that hellspawn!” Dad commanded in the same demanding tone she always hated.

But she sucked it up when she saw the hellspawn trying to escape upstairs. Not on her watch. She flew after him, dodging gunfire and illusions in the process. What was once a quiet room had erupted into flying apparitions and screeching, Alice spotting the reptile darting two and fro while the ghost hid among her numerous constructions.

And though she didn’t see the devildog at first, as she reached the stairs, she did spot a block of ice off to the side, dark red eyes staring back at her from within. Considering how fast Luizitine was moving, she decided against making it shatter, instead rushing up the stairs as fast as she could.

But by then, he was already far ahead.

***

It wasn’t until she reached the third floor that she finally heard Luizitine stop, Alice bursting through the double doors as she found herself suddenly alone with the demon in an empty hallway. She spotted a giant hole in the ground, under which she heard the fighting from down in the lobby, though she tried not to dwell on it too much. Not when she saw Luizitine finally turning to face her, his yellow eyes sending filling her with shivers. She’d always felt so small whenever she saw those eyes. They were the constant reminder of her unchangeable fate. Her so-called duty.

And now, here she was. Face-to-face with the monster himself. Alone. She could feel the fear rising inside her, but there was something else there too. Something instinctual. She gave off a bitter smile, her bat brandished towards the monster as he reached for his tie.

“Wizard,” he said somehow even colder now than it was at the junkyard.

“Demon,” she responded, that instinctual feeling rising in her stomach.

She wanted to run, but she also wanted to beat him with the bat until he stopped moving. And then keep on beating him. For hours. Years. Decades. As much as she missed her powers, she knew all too well why that feeling was creeping back.

“I suppose we both know how this ends,” Luizitine said, his tie sliding off and falling to the ground.

“Hopefully with you in a-“

She didn’t bother to finish, magic already spurring her forward to slam her bat into the hellspawn’s face. But he wasn’t that easy a target. She swung and missed as Luizitine ducked, sharp nails jutting out which she had to dodge away from in return.

“Bloody pulp,” she finished, already gathering up more magic. “Spirit of Gale!”

Wind propelled her back, but hit her target head on, Alice grinning as the demon got sent flying in the opposite direction. He dug his feet into the ground, ripping through the wooden paneling before blowing the winds aside with a wave of both hands. Yellow eyes were glaring back at her, but she didn’t care. That instinctive urge was too loud to ignore.

Luizitine ripped off the suit.

“My thoughts exactly,” he said, springing towards her.

She tried to form another spell, but he was already in her face before she could fire, icy claws slashing at her chest.