Notes: I noticed that Al used to be able to pick things out from Rachel's mind (like back in EWWBD) but he hasn't really done that lately or hasn't being saying anything about that. So I just put it back in. Didn't want you to think I had just suddenly thrown in "OH and Al can read minds."

Chapter 2 - Catalyst

I stood in my graveyard, ready for Al to appear. Soon I felt a pop, and he was there, standing in the mist of the graveyard, looking like he just stepped out of a movie, as always. "Student," he greeted me, inclining his head. He offered his arm and I took it, compressed into a thought and move through the ley lines.

What's bothering you, my itchy-witch? He asked.

Crap. I had forgotten to put a bubble around my thoughts.

Nothing, I lied.

I distinctly recall last time I stood in this graveyard, you asked me to quit lying to you. You have to give to get, student.

We were reconstructed in Al's kitchen, also looking like it was from a movie, and I put a bubble around my thoughts, remembering demons' ability to look in people's heads.

"Well?" he asked.

"Nothing," I answered. This wasn't right. I had wanted to plan this, dammit! I make a plan for once and it all goes to crap. I mentally sighed.

Al fixed his red, goat-slitted eyes on me. "I don't like you keeping secrets from me, Rachel. I won't allow it in my kitchen."

His patronizing tone got to me. Allow it in his kitchen my ass. He sounded like my mother! "How was your trip to Detroit?" I snapped.

Al's eyes widened in surprise, and then he broke out in a laugh. "Marvelous. Very invigorating. How would you know about that? Subscribing to Demon Dealers Weekly, now, are we?"

"You made the paper," I said angrily. "And my name was in it!"

"Really?" said Al, a pinch of vague surprise in his otherwise uninterested voice. "I wonder why… Was my name in it?"

"No it was not," I said, wishing it had been. It would serve him right, getting summoned into a bubble every which way. "I recognized your dog disguise."

"Really? And did it ever occur to you that some other demon might have a similar dog to mine? Though I do say, it really is quite spectacular, isn't it?"

I stopped. It hadn't. But I wasn't going to let him know it. "I knew it was you."

"Do you recall the first time we met?" he said, dreamily.

"Yes. You tore out my neck and gave me a demon mark," I said dryly.

"Well, anyway. All water under the bridge now. I'm glad to see you are starting to take an interest in my work."

"I am not taking an interest in your work! I am taking an interest in saving my ass!"

"You had nothing to do with it. I was engaged in another appointment."

"I hope you charged her double," I said resentfully, thinking about the eight in the hospital and two dead. "Why did you have to bust down a wall instead of jumping the lines? What does a jailbreak cost these days anyhow?"

"Questions, questions, itchy-witch. Hildy likes to put on a show. As to cost, we have an agreement. I have never worked with her before, but she came highly recommended. You and she are in the same business."

I blinked, confused. "Runner?" I asked?

"More or less. I think she prefers the term 'bounty hunter.' Really she's just a gun for hire."

"What do you need a bounty hunter for?" I asked. I was so not getting this.

Al sighed. "I have always prided myself in the quality of my familiars. Talented, well-trained, obedient. But I can't stay in these four rooms forever. I told you, I want my conservatory back. So I went to Hildy."

I was still not getting it. Then a light flicked on. "She bagged you a familiar? She traffics in human flesh?"

"Witch flesh, really. And she hasn't bagged him yet. That's what all that trouble in Detroit was about. She agreed to give him to me free if I got her out of jail, a good deal. She's very expensive. She's really just making it harder on herself. She could settle down in a nice Italian villa somewhere and live rich for the rest of her life, but she insists on playing it dangerous. Much like you, my itchy-witch."

"I could not have an Italian villa if I wanted!" I exclaimed. Italian villa. Me. Yeah, right.

"No, not in Italy. But you could have a wonderful set of rooms here, in the Ever-After. You're both just choosing to live it rough."

I didn't like being compared to her. "She's a traitor to her race," I said softly, trying to imagine it. "For profit."

"Oh don't get you're little black panties into a twist, Rachel. You wouldn't approve of any of the witches she hands over to me. She doesn't just take Mr. and Mrs. Across-the-road, she takes people she deems 'bad'. Really, it's more vigilante than treacherous. I rather think you'd like her. Perhaps we should have coffee and cake together one evening." His tone was mild, but I couldn't help but think that by "cake" he meant "threesome".

"I don't want to meet her," I said. Al just sneered. "I'm surprised you're so fond of her. Not going to drag her into the Ever-After again and sell her off?"

"Oh, I wouldn't say that. Everyone she works for wants to drag her off, but no one has, yet. And I'm not sure if I would sell her or keep her for myself." Al made a low noise and closed his eyes briefly in memory. "We drove down the highway and she holed up in a cheap motel in the middle of nowhere. I took her from behind on the horrid motel bed. She couldn't get enough. It was like we were Bonnie and Clyde."

I closed my eyes, trying to shut out his words. I did not appreciate the image of Al and this girl doing it from behind. "Al, you bastard, I don't want to hear about that," I said, but when I opened my eyes he was looking intently at me.

"Why?" he asked softly. "Jealous?" His eyes were still on mine in the dim light of his kitchen.

I stifled a shiver. That was not a tone of voice I was comfortable with. Something deep inside shifted, and I squelched it with my metaphorical boot heel.

Later, I sat at his slate table, studying Latin. Al was moving restlessly by the fire. He would sometimes open a book, read some, then put it away or go down into the cellar to yell at Pierce. I was slightly peeved he didn't have anything really useful for me to do, but also sort of relieved after last time. He had been sitting by the fire when he suddenly stood up. "Time to go, dove," he said to me.

"What? Go where?" I asked.

"I need to pick up the goods from Hildy. She won't come into the Ever-After, clever girl."

"I already said I didn't want to meet her."

"I didn't ask. I am not leaving you alone again, and certainly not with Pierce," he spat Pierce's name and his eyes burned for a second. I wondered if he knew about what happened between Pierce and me or if he was just generally peeved with Pierce again, as usual. I decided to not say anything. Nope, I certainly wasn't going to be the one to tell Al. Hell, I wouldn't even be around when it happened if I could help it.

"I can sit here and study Latin by myself," I said.

"Quit whining. It's unbecoming. I already said I am not leaving you alone. Come along." I knew that I had pushed Al to his limit on this and stood up grudgingly. "It might even be fun, if you let it," he said and grabbed me around my waist and pushed us into a line before I could reply. I remembered to put a bubble around my thoughts this time.

We popped out into a field somewhere. I turned around and saw her. She looked like her picture, tall, thin, pale, but this time she was smiling. "Ally," she said fondly, and opened her arms for a hug. I crossed my arms and stayed where I was while Al embraced her. It was a more-than-friends hug, what with the way he had wedged his leg between hers. I saw his hand snake around to her ass and grab it. She yelled in mock surprise and pretended to be offended as she batted his hand away. "Really, Al, don't make me regret mixing business with pleasure."

I heard Al make a low growling noise, like a large cat purring, and say something I didn't hear. She saw me and smiled. "Rachel Morgan," she said. "I've heard of you." Well, obviously, since you know my name, traitor.

She stepped towards me and I saw a crumpled heap behind her in a silly-looking black robe. She stood in front of me and held out her hand. She was taller than me, but I had several pounds of muscle on her. She looked like somebody stuck tits on a stickfigure. She looked very striking, possibly able to give Ivy a run for her money when it came to looks, but I bet that was her real face as much as the British gentleman was Al's. I didn't take her hand.

"Now, Rachel," said Al, patronizing as always, "don't be rude. Shake your fellow runner's hand."

"She's not a runner," I mumbled, but I shook it quickly anyway. I just wanted to get back to Al's kitchen and away from this traitor slut. She was seriously gross.

Hildy raised one eyebrow at me and I silently damned her again. I had always wanted to be able to do that! She didn't say anything though, and instead turned around back to the heap. "He was wearing this when I found him. Trying to summon a demon to take me out. I got to him before sunset though." She looked at me this time. "He had an eleven year old girl all lined up as payment."

I squirmed. I didn't want her talking to me and didn't know why she felt like she needed to justify herself to me. Al took the pile and vanished, reappearing one awkwardly silent minute later.

"It's all arranged," he said. "I expect to have my conservatory back by tomorrow."

"Pleasure doing business with you," she said, and giggled at her pun. Pleasure. Ha. Funny. She inclined her head and took off running. I jumped as she moved impossibly fast over the empty field, as if she were a vampire.

"Demon curse. Lets her run fast. She's got another one that makes her impenetrable. Her skin, anyway. Catch her at the right time and she's penetrable enough."

He was giving me the icks again. Just when we were starting to really work together, he keeps talking about his sexcapades with this gross woman.

"Come now. Let's get along," he said, and pulled me back into the Ever-After.