"Do you have to go, Dad?" Devon Blake asked, tugging on his father's work pants. Devon hated it when his father had to go away on business. Unfortunately, there was little the nine-year-old boy could do about it. Even his mother, Danielle, couldn't make Nathan- Devon's father- stay.

"Yes, Devon." Nathan sighed. "I'll be back, okay? Just like I always am. Maybe when I get back we can play catch in the yard, okay?"

"Yeah!" Devon agreed enthusiastically.

"Kaiden." Nathan addressed his older son. "Be good for your mother, understand?"

"Yes, dad." Kaiden sighed. He always got this warning when his father went out of town.

"Don't use that tone of voice with me, young man. If I hear you caused any trouble when I get back, we'll have words, got it?"

"Yes, dad." Kaiden satisfied Nathan, and he picked up his suitcase before kissing his wife on the cheek and murmuring a quick 'Love you.' The driver from the company he worked for him in the entryway,and took his bag before opening the door of the black SUV.

"Alright, boys." Danielle forced a smile and wrapped her arms around her sons. "Who wants some toaster strudels before Mommy has to go to work?"

"I do, I do!" Devon shouted, and Kaiden just nodded before they headed into the kitchen.

Back in Nathan's rented SUV, the business man made a call.

"Is everything ready?... Good. Excellent."

Elsewhere in the world- or rather, not in the world at all, twin sisters Hadwyn and Darnelle Alden were playing their favorite game- who can annoy the other the most.

"I'm bored." Hadwyn sighed, looking over at her sister.

"So? What do you want to do then?" Darnelle scoffed.

"I don't know, you pick, you're the younger sister."

"You're the older sister, you pick."

"I'm the oldest, and I say that you pick."

"You're only two minutes older than me." Darnelle protested.

"I'm still older."

Hadwyn and Darnelle were sixteen, though they'd been sixteen a lot longer than most people spent being sixteen. They were waiting- waiting for something to do, waiting for someone to call for them, waiting for someone who needed their assistance- waiting, just... waiting.

"I don't care if you're older. You're not the boss of me."

"Technically I am. The oldest is in charge."

"The oldest can suck it."

"Well, then fine. I'm not talking to you anymore."

"Anymore ever?"

"Never ever again. Shit. Starting now, I mean."

"You say that at least once a week. Or whatever."

"Yeah yeah. Whatever."

"You're still talking to me." Darnelle teased.

Hadwyn stuck her tongue out at her sister.

"There you go."

Hadwyn rolled her eyes, and for a few minutes, it was silent. "Meow?"

"Meow."

"Meow? Meow. Meow?"

"Meow meow meow meow."

"Meow meow meow meow meow meow meow."

"Mew."

"Mew?"

"Mew." Darnelle agreed.

"I'm bored." Hadwyn sighed.

"There's nothing I can do about it."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm younger than you."

"That doesn't mean anything."

"It did ten minutes ago."

"Well, I wasn't as bored as I am now."

"Well, figure something out."

"Why don't you figure something out?"

"Because I'm not bored. Well, I am, but I'm content."

This response prompted another eye roll. "Sure."

"Go grab a notebook and some pens if you're so bored."

"Why don't you do that? You are the youngest. You should do my bidding. Besides, it's your idea."

"Hmmmmmmm naw."

"Fine. I will, but don't expect me to share."

"Of course not. We're not mature or anything." Darnelle rolled her eyes at her sister. They'd been born some time in the 1600s, only to be persecuted as witches and burned at the stake. Since then, they'd spent a long time in hell, and only about 50 years earlier had they been promoted to the status of 'Demon.' Of course, Darnelle had always considered her sister a demon.

"Shut up."

"Make me."

"Maybe I will."

"I'd like to see you try." Darnelle scoffed.

"Maybe I will!"

"Do it then!"

"Fine! I will!" Before Hadwyn could take a step closer to them, they were slammed out of their reality and into a cool dark basement.

"Woah."

Look. Hadwyn motioned to two figures in the darkness, who clearly couldn't see anything in the dark.

We got called? But the fight was just getting good.

Shush. I wonder what they want. They don't seem entirely aware that we're here.

No, they don't.

Well, what should we do about this?

One of the boys looked frantically in the dark, even though he couldn't see anything. "Who's there?"

That's our cue. Hadwyn grinned at her sister.

I do believe it is. Darnelle grinned, creating a ball of fire in her palm. "Only us."