Thanks for waiting, I had writers block for a little bit, but now it's fine. I'll probably update tomorrow if I have time.

-L


Midnite was there when he woke up. The big man was still in his cleanly pressed purple and red suit. John didn't know what he felt at that moment, he had known that it had not been a dream, but the presence of him in his room was an unwelcome reminder of...Hell.

Finally Midnite broke the silence. "Your parents are in the waiting room."

John said nothing.

"You will have to leave them behind."

'What were those things, in Hell, with the half-heads?" He didn't look at Midnite, for fear of what might be revealed on the man's face, John couldn't handle pity at the moment.

"Soldier demons. They are minions to the devil."

"Lucifer." John said to the bedsheets.

"Then you've met him?"

"Yes."

Midnite was quiet for a bit, waiting for him to elaborate, but when no other information was forthcoming he tried to fill the awkward gap.

"I've met your sister."

"And what is she?"

"An angel."

Silence again, Midnite gave up trying to catch his eye and peered out the window in the hallway.

"I'm mad you know." John said conversationally.

Midnite sighed and crossed his legs. "That's what they told me."

John realized he was crying and hurriedly wiped his eyes on his sleeve.

"What will I have to do?"

"Learn mostly, I won't be in charge of you. I have other people who do the real work, I just give you a place to stay."

"Why must I go with you?"

Midnite's eyes widened in amazement. "You want to go back to Ravenscar?"

"No...but..."

"Listen, Christina knows you're alive, she'll look you up in a few years, your parents will think you dead and your only friend really is dead."

John looked up sharply. "How do you know about Sean?"

"Hennesy."

"What?"

"You used to have a friend called Hennesy?"

"Well, I wouldn't say a friend as such."

"Anyway, he told me about you."

"How did you meet Hennesy?"

'I got him about a month ago, his family died, so I vouched for him."

"But why?"

"You'll have to come with me to find out."

"What, now?"

"No time like the present."

"But what about my family?"

"The Nurses will cover for us, there was a mistaken identity or something, you've already been cremated."

"But-"

Without even looking to see if John was following, Midnite strode out the door. Cursing, John struggled out of the metal cot. Where the hell was he going? Standing now and feeling sick John walked down the hallway, gripping the wall weakly for support.

A flash of purple disappeared around a corner in front of him and he tripped, lurching into the middle of the hallway. He brushed some of the hair away from his eyes and noticed that the bandage around his wrist was turning red.

"Midnite...?"

The purple and red blur in front of him got bigger and bigger. Strong arms lifted him up, and someone gasped.

"Jesus Christ Johnny, when did you last eat?"

"Don't call me Johnny..." John protested weakly.

"Alright, hold on a second. Nurse!"

John passed out.


The good news was that John had eaten and was on his way out. The bad news was that Midnite didn't have a car, and John didn't have any clothes, other than the thin hospital scrubs he was wearing.

"Look I have to go now, I'm late for an appointment."

John said nothing, Midnite had managed to give him a room with a view onto busy streets and John watched the passersby with interest, here and there the place was dotted with wings and forked tails, pushing through crowds and running towards the subway like every other person on the street.

Winged people ran out of grocery stores, to be hissed at by glowing eyes.

"I'll send someone over with clothes."

John nodded absentmindedly watching two old women gossip with a demon.

A demon... John savored the word. These things were real, and they had names. It felt like he had been running all his life. And now he had found somewhere safe.

The door closed quietly and John lost himself in the street again.


It was hours later, when somebody knocked. John was flipping through a book on medical history. He peered through a door, a teenager, probably seventeen was looking around nervously, he jostled something in his hand, a plastic bag.

John opened the door and stuck his head out.

"Yes?"

"Are you John?" He asked, tapping his foot restlessly.

"Yes."

"I'm Beeman, Midnite sent me over with clothes." Beeman offered the bag.

John took it and opened the door wider. "You work for Midnite?"

"I run errands for him." He stood up straighter, almost proud of his job.

"Right..." John said indifferently, sifting through the bag. "I have to wear this?" He asked, revolted.

The clothes were purple and red, a magenta jacket and a white silk shirt. The pants were silk too, but a horribly depressing shade of dark purple.

"Yeah, You don't have to wear it now though, There are some jeans and a T-shirt in there as well."

"I'm am never going to wear that."

"You have to, you'll serve in his club when you have time off. We all have to wear it."

"Jesus... Well, I'll find something else to wear then."

"He'll get angry, he isn't fond of us. To him we're just...business."


Sorry, i needed a filler chapter, and I had to introduce Beeman and Hennesy some way.