“I am aware that your kind dislike the middle of the day, but I do not appreciate being made to wait. Do return my call before something unfortunate has to happen. Next time, leave a message. That’s what it’s there for.”
Eva rolled her eyes. He doesn’t like people making him wait? Sawyer had ignored the initial call and then forgot about it for half the day.
With a displeased shake of his head, Sawyer dropped the phone back into his pocket.
Eva watched him return to making skeletons for a moment longer. When he didn’t do anything suspicious, Eva pushed herself out of bed.
She had until nightfall to discuss with the others just what they should do. Not responding at all would be too suspicious, but they needed to keep him in the dark for one more day. At least. Two, ideally.
Eva’s ritual would run out halfway through tomorrow night. While they could
Either way, Eva was starting to get excited about just what she wanted to do to Sawyer. Maybe she would take the little cigar cutter off the rack and put it to use.
Mummies
Clement walked down the streets towards Brakket Academy.
Naked.
Well, not quite naked. He had jeans and a tee-shirt.
But he felt naked.
Without his armor, anything could kill him. A random bus that had its brake line cut, a brick falling from a high building, even tripping over his own shoelaces could send him to the ground and snap his neck.
Clement glanced down at his tennis shoes. They were still tied in neat little knots.
Too many things could end his usefulness to Gertrude without him being able to do a thing.
Most of all, demons would find him easy prey without his armor. Being a mundane human, Clement had no way to defend himself from the more supernatural threats that lurked in the shadows. He couldn’t cast a fireball to save his life. No teleportation would help him, nor any other miraculous interventions.
He did keep an enchanted dagger at his side. That might help against lesser threats, but not against anything greater. His dagger had been made by Gertrude and it was a marvelous work, even if he didn’t understand the magic behind it. However, it couldn’t hold a candle to his sword. A sword that had been designed centuries ago specifically for the purpose of slaying demons.
Demons were their current targets.
Clement hated this plan.
Walking alone in the chilly morning air, Clement felt more naked than ever. The academy building was the nest of the demons. And he was walking towards it.
But armor was too conspicuous. People took note of a massive hulk wandering down the street looking like a renaissance fair reject. They took far less note of a lanky man with a depressed air about him. Even in a city as small as Brakket.
Worse than people taking notice, armor made demons wary. It really didn’t matter normally when Clement charged at a demon, swinging his sword. They could be wary all they wanted to be. A slash through their chest ended their wariness before they could do much about it.
Brakket City was different from normal. Demons were everywhere. If the demons saw him wandering around in his armor, they would definitely think that something was up. Whether they would attack as a group or flee didn’t matter, neither would end well for him.
Though, all the demons in Brakket City would be more wary after tonight.
At least, all the demons remaining.
Clement just had to believe that he would still be around to see their wariness.
And he did believe. Gertrude was watching him. She wouldn’t let him down.
Pausing with his hand on the door to Brakket Academy, Clement took a deep breath.
He pushed the door open and walked inside.
The offices for the dean and other non-teaching staff were just off to the side of the main lobby. One of the demons around Brakket City, the succubus, constantly sat at the receptionist’s desk. They had spent time watching everyone, learning patterns and plotting out possible ambushes.
That desk was where both he and Gertrude expected the succubus to be this morning.
But the desk was empty.
The only other place where the succubus could be found was a small home near the academy.
That home had been empty as well, he had checked there first.
Clement froze in indecision. Something had already gone wrong. They had watched for weeks and had the succubus’ routine down to the hour. What had changed? Why was it different now?
Did they know?
A chill ran down his spine. He spun, hand going to the dagger at his side.
“Hello, did you need something?”
Clement just about collapsed in relief. He had felt certain that the pillar was the one behind him.
