She wiped down the bar, calling out over the wheezing twang of the broken jukebox in the corner, "Last call then we're closing it up."

Ignoring the few groans from the few patrons conscious enough to hear her, she tossed the rag across the bar to the sink, smiling to herself when it landed with a satisfying thump. Turning back to the room she sighed, reaching under the bar for the bat she kept there. "Folks, I wasn't kidding. It's time to get your sorry asses out of the seats and either into your cars or your cabs. I don't care which but don't drink and drive."

"What if we do?"

"Then you do it at your own risk." She tapped the bat on the car, "Now get out."

They all stumbled to their feet, a few shooting her dirty looks or nasty stares but she ignored them all. Someone tripped over a chair but she only rolled her eyes. She went into the back, pulling out the mop and bucket as the last patron made their way out of the bar.

With a beleaguered sigh she started at the door, flipping the sign and switching out the neon lights, slapping the wet mop on the floor. She worked from one side to the next, reaching the bar before risking emptying her bucket to refill. As the water ran she heard a noise at the front of the bar.

"Hey," She flipped the water off, coming back out, "The sign says 'closed'. That means-"

"I know what the sign being off means." The dark figure at the door weaved between the tables as if made of shadow and darkness. "You kicked everyone out early tonight."

"It's three am."

"I don't keep this bar open because I care about time."

"We humans have to, unfortunate as it is." She wiped at her forehead. "I wasn't expecting you until the fifteenth."

"I'm not here, officially." The figure approached the bar, the orange-yellow light from the bar lighting the other woman's face. "I'm here to see you, Anna."

Anna rolled her head, trying to crack out her neck. "What could've possibly earned me your attentions?"

"Don't be so ungrateful."

"I never said I was."

"I invented sarcasm, as the impolite response to people seeking politeness." The other woman tapped on the bar, leaving slight sing marks where her fingers touched. "I don't need it from you."

"What do you need?"

"I need you to find more people to give me their souls."

"I'm not into marketing. Wasn't my major in school."

"Then get into it." The woman adjusted her dark hair. "I'm here on the fifteenth for souls. If there aren't any souls here then why do I bother coming?"

"Because you wanted to give me a place to serve out the penance you demanded in return for my deal." Anna shrugged, "I do what I must, Vera, because this is what gives me back my soul."

"Ha!" Vera shook her head, "You'll give your whole life just to be free."

"It'd be worth it." Anna managed a half smile, "The darkest night of the month is coming so why don't we just wait to see each other again until then?"

"You make it sound like you don't want to see me."

"Why would anyone want to meet the devil herself?"

"You did once. When you bargained for that man's life." Vera clicked her tongue against her teeth, "And then he turned on you. What a shame."

"It was and it is." Anna shrugged, "I guess I'll see what I can do about getting more people to perform for you here so they can sell their souls to play the blues."

"Remember, only the most willing." Vera held up a finger. "I don't want to be dragging anyone."

"I thought it was called the 'Devil's Bar' for a reason?" Anna watched as Vera went back to the door. "Aren't they supposed to be dragged from here to Hell?"

"No one gets dragged to Hell. They make their way there one decision at a time." Vera stalked back toward Anna, "Slowly, carefully, we wind the thread around their wrists until it's a chain that I use to pull them to where they're decisions led them. It's a simple arrangement."

"I guess it is."

"You should know," Vera laughed, appearing in an instance at the door, "You made it yourself."