"Excuse me, but who the fuck are you?" Nikki asked angrily as she took a defensive stance between Jessica and the portly man.
"Someone that can help you out of your situation," the man sneered, "Name's Behm."
"Help us how?" Jessica asked as she placed a calming hand on Nikki's shoulder.
"You made a deal with Lucifer and now you're having some buyer's remorse," Behm said as he stared at Jessica.
"We can handle things just fine on our own," Nikki growled, "How about you do us all a favor a bugger off, or else?"
"Or else what?" Behm tilted his head back atop his thick neck and laughed. "You've had Lucifer's powers for no more than fifteen minutes. How do you expect to stop the Emperor of Hell? Give him a little slap across the cheek?"
Jessica scowled as she stared at the pothole ridden road. As much as she wished to deny the man's words she knew he was right. Back at the club, she had no control over the situation. Somehow she turned her hand into a branding iron by mistake and just improvised after that.
"He's been around since the dawn of humanity. "You can't just go in guns blazing," Behm said before he paused for a moment to take a long draw from his cigarette, "You need a plan."
Nikki cast a side-eyed glance at Jessica before she spoke, "So let's say we have some master plan. Why help us? What's in it for you?"
Behm grinned, "I'm glad you asked. You see Lucifer and I go way back to a time I still had my freedom." He snapped his fingers and exposed his forearms. Black and red spectral shackles faintly glowed for a few moments before they vanished. "Now I'm forced to serve as his personal cook. His own personal slave."
"So we're supposed to help you kill Lucifer?" Jessica asked hesitantly.
"I doubt even God himself could kill Lucifer. The devil's a powerful one and he didn't rise to the top by screwing around," Behm said. "But you have his blood coursing through your veins. We can turn his strength against him." Behm took another puff from his cigarette and then flicked it into a nearby puddle. "You see, only his power can break the shackles that seal my strength. You do that for me and I can help get rid of him."
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Jessica mulled the conversation over and crossed her arms as she spoke, "I've been tricked by one devil. What's to say you won't do the same and run off?"
"Lucifer would simply hunt me down and drag me back to Hell before dawn," Behm sighed.
"Can we have a moment?" Nikki asked as she grabbed Jessica by the arm and dragged her out of earshot.
Behm turned his attention to the main road and continued to blow smoke into the cool night air, his back facing the girls.
"What's up?" Jessica asked.
"I'm not sure about this guy," Nikki said in a hushed tone. "I don't know if we should trust him."
"He seems like he has quite the grudge against Lucifer. I don't think we need to worry about him. Besides," She said as she held her hand up and wiggled her fingers, "He might be able to help me figure out these powers."
"Yeah, but if we're wrong about this you'll be as good as dead by tomorrow night," Nikki said.
Jessica shook her head back and forth, "Yeah but we both know I was going to be dead anyway."
"You still had a couple of months to live though! What am I supposed to do without you?" Nikki rose her voice as her eyes watered up.
"Nikki..." Jessica said softly. She held her in a tight embrace as the rain drops continued to fall on their heads. "We'll figure this out."
"If I may interject," Behm called out from the end of the alley as he strode toward the duo. "Devils are near immortal beings. Whatever was killing you can't as long as you have Lucifer's power."
Nikki's ears perked up as she gave Jessica a hopeful look, who returned it with match enthusiasm. "Alright, we'll work with you."
"So how do I break the shackles on you?" Jessica asked as she waved her hands about.
"It's not that simple. Right now your power is most likely tied to your emotions, and loosely at best," Behm began to explain. "Like learning to ride a bicycle you'll have to practice with it."
"How long does that take?" Jessica asked.
Behm shrugged, "Some new demons take years to really develop their power."
"We don't have years!" Nikki exclaimed.
Behm raised a hand to calm her, "Relax. With Lucifer's power flowing through her there's more than enough raw talent there. It's just a matter of turning on the spigot and where to point the hose. I've got some other things to take care of so in the mean time, practice."
"I'm sorry but what the fuck?" Nikki blurted out, "That doesn't help us much!"
"You'll be fine. Just try to reach high levels of emotion again and hang on to that. You'll get the hang of it," Behm said as he began to walk away.
"Again?" Jessica said with a raised brow. "What do you mean again?"
"Saw what you did at the club," He smirked before he walked around the corner and out of sight.
"That sleazy dirt bag!" Nikki exclaimed, "He followed us from the nightclub!"
"Dirt bag or not right now he's kind of our best shot at making it to the end of the week," Jessica said.
"Ugh!" Nikki ran her fingers through her hair and pulled. "You're right..."
"Want to get out of the rain and go to my place while we figure this devil magic out?"
Nikki nodded as she finally took note of her wet cut-off shirt. "Yeah. Can I borrow a change of clothes too? Slade is probably watching my place now."
Jessica chuckled, "Girl, you can borrow anything you want."