While Dave snored and Elaine grumbled in her deep sleep, I turned and tossed around on a rock-hard table, and unbeknownst to us, someone was on our tail…

Back in the basement where we had thought Mary, a strange visitor had just made his entrance.

‘’Search everywhere you fools! There is no way that Mary could have just up and disappeared.’’ Shouted a loud scratchy voice that slowly emerged from the shadows. The figure of a man dressed in simple leathers and with a handlebar mustache walked into the dimly lit room. He strolled surveying the remnants of the battle in the basement. He looked warily, tugging on his long mustache, deep in thought. Something didn’t seem right here. There were clear signs of a struggle, but between who? The guard had known Mary for a long time and was skeptical that any harm could befall her.

After a few moments and still no idea of what had happened, his mood soured, and his hand slid over to his shoulder where the corpse of a plump mouse lay. A mouse that had once been so full of life, now lay bereft of color.

Squatting to his knees, the man tugged the mouse off and dangled its lifeless body above his head. His jaws opened wide, wider than humanly possible, and displayed sharp razor-like teeth. In an instant, a piston-like tongue shot out from his throat, wrapped itself around the mouse, and disappeared back. Blood burst from the corner of his lips as a sickening crunch was followed by a horrifying pop. He slowly licked the dark red off his lips, savoring the taste. A smile spread across his face. The taste of mice was a bonus to the boost in mana he received. Every mouse from a broken contract raised his mana. Yet, it wasn’t enough. He needed much more if he was to achieve his grandest of desires.

His minions, small low-ranked demons- barely visible to the human eye, hurried around the room checking every little speck of dirt for any clue of the events that had transpired. They moved with urgency, knowing that failure meant certain death. He had already devoured two of them before entering the basement. Their error had been no more than appearing to slow from their summoning.

‘’Boss, I found something.’’ barked a shadowy four-legged demon that resembled a cross between a spider and a dog, with sharp red slits for eyes and razor-white teeth. ‘’The ground here has been scorched. And just over there,’’ he continued, ‘’’’there’s a set of footprints leading out.’’

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

‘’Enough!’’ Demanded the man. ‘’Come to me.’’

The demons howled and cracked as their dark shadowy bodies vapourised into a fine mist. It merged, growing larger until an ominous cloud hovered in the air. The man clapped his hands, and a shockwave pulsed through the room. The cloud continued to hover; however, the man’s clap had caught the attention of something else in the room. Something far darker and more nefarious than his low-level minions. A second dark cloud poured down from the ceiling and took on the form of a shadowy woman. The air reverberated with static, and steam formed around the figure. The eyes, where there were none just a second ago, blinked open. A mouth too, unfolded from nothing.

‘’Aloch.’’ You are dismissed. The cloud, his small personal army of demon servants known as Aloch, dissipated into nothingness. This left Mary and her master from prying eyes.

‘’Mary, tell me what transpired between you and whoever did this to you?’’

‘’Yes, sire.’’ She hissed hesitantly. ‘’but first, forgive me. I have failed you.’’ Mary knelt to one knee and seemed to be pleading.

‘’Silence!’’ Demanded the man.

‘’Speak only of what I ask. Your fate has yet to be decided. It weighs on the outcome of what you speak. Provoke me again and your end shall be swift.’’

The shadow of Mary the demon shivered and lowered further to the ground in prostration. ‘’As you wish sire.’’

Mary explained the entirety of the events that had occurred between herself, Dave, and Liam. The man nodded and listened intently before cracking his neck and cackling manically.

‘’How interesting. This seems rather unusual. A mouse with magical talents. A rarity, one that may provide me the mana I need to become an archdemon. Perfect.’’ Mused the man, his dark energy leaking through his human façade.

‘’Your familiar Mary, where is he now?’’

‘’I sense his presence, he is near. He is with the two that did this to me.’’

‘’Excellent. You are fortunate this time. Your familiar has saved you. See to it that this little mess is taken care of.’’

‘’And Mary, bring me the mouse. Alive if you will. I do enjoy the taste of fear on my prey before I devour them.’’

Mary nodded in agreement but hidden from the man, a devious smile crossed her lips.

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Back at the Cat’s Ear Inn and Tavern, Bodger the Badger felt a shiver run up and down his spine. He knew what this meant. His master had been revived and this meant that his freedom had once again been taken from him. He knew his master would appear soon and want revenge, and that would require his participation. Fortunately though, his actions thus far would most likely be deemed as favorable to his and his master’s cause. He knew the location of their prey!