Disclaimer: Ich habe keine.


"We're looking for something without a face – a human face," Vicki explained to Coreen.

"How do you know it's not just collecting?" She asked with a massive book on her lap. She flipped on to the first page. It had a huge A at the top. Like a dictionary. But instead of words it had names of demons, starting with Abaddon and a definition of what it was. Vicki shouldn't have been surprised.

"A guess. One of each feature and when Fiona was talking she said 'needs' not 'wants'. It's not much but about all we have."

"Well, faceless demons are pretty rare so whatever you find could be it. Ok, take volume two and look for the right description." Coreen pointed to another massive book that was on her desk.

"Is there a more efficient way than this?" Vicki asked thumbing through the book.

"Not on what you've given me." Coreen said turning another page. Vicki acquiesced and skimmed the pages in silence. The writing was tiny and she had the book embarrassingly close to her face to be able to make out the words.

"Quite a few of these don't have descriptions…"

"Then we'll assume it wasn't one of them." Coreen said engrossed in a description. "How does this sound? The Allu are a race of monstrous and faceless demons that impedes the journey of a soul to the underworld. From Akkadian mythology they were born to Lilitu – a succubus – and they stole their fathers soul."

"Well, I couldn't say you were wrong. How do you kill it?"

"You can't." Vicki looked at Coreen. "It's descended from a succubus so it can only be banished." Coreen ditched the book and went to the computer. "Now I have a name…" She typed for a moment then a screen appears slowly. "There isn't a definitive method. Frankincense seems to work and the number seven seems to be significant. Give me a bit of time and I'll throw a banishing together." Vicki looked at her in disbelief. She had so much self-confidence, even after the Asteroth incident. And she was damn good at what she did. Vicki sat and watched her assistant work. She wondered if she would fire her, for her safety. The amount of times Coreen nearly died in the last year… but she knew that if she did fire her she'd never be able to get another assistant. And certainly not one half as good. "Vicki?"

"Yeah?" She snapped out of her thought path.

"Your staring is a little disconcerting." Vicki nodded and got up.

"When you're done can you call Henry? Tell him what you've found, ok? I'm going to update Mrs Lafette."


Vicki breathed out heavily. She'd just lied to her client but some things must be done. She had a plan. A pretty good plan, she thought. So now she had to call Henry and get him to release Fiona. This was the second time she was outside Henry's apartment complex that night. And one of the last it would be Henry's. Vicki shivered and leaned against the wall, what a weird thought. Not that life without Henry was that inconceivable in a basic sense but she knew that she was the one who attracted the supernatural creepy crawlies and he was the one who got rid of them. She ignored the tremble in her chest when she thought of his apartment without him in it. She broke down before but she wouldn't again. Whatever happened, he was going to leave. Nothing she could do could change that. She just didn't know why it hurt so much. She saw the car Coreen was driving and dialled Henry's number. Her memories of him would always be kind of bittersweet as there was always some kind of crisis going on but –

"Vicki?" She jumped. It shouldn't have surprised her that she dialled the number and he picked up the phone. She was getting wrapped up in her thoughts a lot lately…

"Can you release Fiona now?"

"As long as you know what you're doing,"

"I do. Learning to live without you and all, remember."

"She'll be on her way down shortly," His tone was clipped and polite. Then he hung up on her. At least she'd gotten the ball rolling. She stayed where she was until Fiona was half way down the street then joined Coreen in the car as they slowly tailed her.


Normal 0

They ended up outside a car garage on Lawrence Avenue. It had a for-sale sign outside and looked pretty shut up but Fiona got in easy enough.

"You've got it, right?" Coreen asked, yet again.

"Yes." Vicki repeated for the thousandth time. "It's simple."

"Ok, here is the dagger. And your candle. And the lighter." Coreen said as she handed over each item. Vicki pocketed the equipment. There were slight flaws to this plan but with the element of surprise it could work...

"Thank you, mom." Coreen elbowed her and Vicki switched from teasing to serious. "You are going to stay out of that garage whatever happens. Do not enter it. If you do you're fired."

"Vicki..." Coreen sounded aspirated.

"See you in twenty," Vicki said pointedly.

"Remember to give me enough time to set up outside." Coreen shouted after her.


Vicki walked towards the garage knowing this wasn't the smartest thing she'd ever done but she didn't have anyone else to help. And this was why she needed Henry. Coreen finished candling the perimeter. She listened at the door but could hear nothing so she grasped the handle and turned it.

And walked straight into an empty open plan garage. Shit. Play dumb. Faceless demon? What faceless demon? "Is this the…oh? I thought this was for sale. And, like, unoccupied. I was just checking it out before tomorrow. What are you doing here? " A hand poked out of the black cloak and beckoned her forward. There was a reason she died her hair blonde. She walked towards Fifi and the cloaked figure. Evil things generally didn't question obedience. So she knelt at its feet and quickly took out the candle, lighter and dagger. She lit the candle and gave herself a shallow cut almost in one movement. She looked up at the demon. "By my blood, I banish you." She whispered. Her blood dripped onto the candle and put out the flame then… nothing happened. Shit. Nothing was happening.

Coreen stood outside the warehouse door, listening. All the candles were in place, six with seven burning sticks of frankincense in between. And Vicki went in when she was done. Everything should be going to plan. All the candles should go out in… about a minute. Now. Now? What was Vicki doing? The plan was; to go in; light candle; dagger; blood; by my blood, I banish you; and out. Nothing more complicated than that. She had the element of surprise. This should be working. She should be done. But the candles still blazed. Coreen took out her cell phone.

The demon seized Vicki by the neck and raised her off the ground.

"I know what ears I'm getting and now the eyes have walked right into my hands. Wonderful timing." He said to Vicki while passing is hand over her eyes. He closed his fist on the other side of her face, sensing her potential. Damnation. They couldn't be used. He would just have to take the slave's as he originally presumed. Which was a shame, she was quite useful. But then again, the world bred plebeians. He felt something cool and steel enter his chest and pierce where his heart would have been. He looked at the woman. She must have been lead here. The slave.

"Do you know how long it took me to get this body perfect?" He looked at Vicki and shook her. "Do you?" He shouted. He removed the blade from his chest and tossed it aside.

So much for the blade through the heart theory she thought. Vicki was in deep shit. The demon passed his hand over her eyes again. Closer this time, touching her face. She closed her eyes.

"Perhaps I'll take this anyway," The demon said as he tossed Vicki aside. She hit the wall and slid down but the Allu was already on his way to his so-called slave. Leading murderers into his lair. She had to suffer.


It's kinda short but it's leading up to the last chapter.

Review if you like or if you don't and I wonder if anyone's guessed what i've done :P

It's evil