Part 6

Willow let the mask fall into place as the chauffer opened her door. Graham's hand pressed comfortably at the small of her back as he escorted her into the building where they were to meet Zelana. Graham had finally received the call setting up the long awaited meeting.

The only outward sign of Willow's nervousness was the slight tapping of her foot as they waited for the elevator to arrive at the penthouse floor.

The slight ping of the elevator caused its occupants to move to either side of the door. Standing in front of a door to an unknown destination could get you killed.

Zelana smiled as the doors to the elevator opened and revealed an empty cab. He had wanted the best and he'd gotten the best. Only a fool would arrive at the home of a demon without precautions.

"Welcome to my home." He smiled as he felt magick surrounding him. The witch had put a barrier up before they exited the elevator.

Graham's gun was by his side as he held out his other hand to Willow and never taking his eyes off Zelana they left the elevator's cab.

Willow felt the room for any magickal essences and felt none that shouldn't be there. "Release."

"Nicely done, my dear."

Willow slightly nodded in acknowledgement.

Zelana escorted them to into his office.

Willow still couldn't get over the organization of the demon world. They were nothing like the demons she was used to in Sunnydale. These were more like the demons that Wolfram and Hart represented and Angel fought against. Powerful and deadly.

Graham holstered his gun but he had a few knives sheathed on his forearm that he could get to very quickly. He sat next to Willow with his arm casually along the back of the settee. It looked intimate but it gave Graham easy access to his knives.

Zelana sat back and watched the interaction between the two mercenaries. He already knew Graham by reputation and from what he heard about his new protégé they were just the ones for the job. If he was satisfied with their work after this job he would hire them for all his work. It never hurt to have a deadly human and powerful witch on the payroll.

"As we discussed on the phone I have a job that requires your unique talents." Zelana began. "There has been dissatisfaction among our ranks and we are attempting to clean house."

"Why hire us? There are plenty of demon mercenaries that would take this job."

"True, but their loyalties would be questioned once the house was cleaned. Not so with you two."

"Yet you trust us."

Zelana looked into their dead eyes before replying, "I wouldn't say trust but you have no interest in our community except who pays on time and who has a reputation for being straight with you. The politics of our realm doesn't interest you. Besides, I have done a little investigating and you have a code that you live by. You don't care about the side but once you take a job you're loyal to that side."

Graham barely nodded in acknowledgment.

The demon slipped a folder to Graham.

Willow looked down into the face of their target. This was the part she was having trouble with. Yeah, okay demon and huge big bad but she'd never killed in cold blood. Sure she killed to stop an apocalypse or to save a life but this was different. This was hunting them down and killing them. She knew it was the greater good as it was their ticket into the inner sanctum of the high-ranking demon council but she knew this was a path she had never envisioned herself going down.

Graham knew that Willow was having trouble with this part of their assignment. They had talked about it at length and he had been brutally honest with her. Your first kill you never get over. It changes EVERYTHING. He still had nightmares about his and it had been years ago. There would be more killing before this mission was over but it would be more like keeping demons in line than the actual hunt and kill. Except of course the ultimate target . . . the head of the council.

The Agency was under no illusion that the Council would rebuild. For every evil destroyed there were two or three to take its place. It was the equivalent of the Hydra. But it would take them a long time to regroup and if they got lucky they could have a few moles in place.

Graham and Willow flipped through the folder, they would go over it in length after the meeting but for now they were getting just a general feel for the job.

"How closely guarded is he?"

"Like all of us he has minions and demons that he surrounds himself with but there is a growing number among his rank that are becoming dissatisfied."

Willow looked at Zelana, "The next in line is the leader of the coup?"

"Not only pretty but smart. You are correct, his second has become disenchanted with how Groomarc is running his part of the Council."

"Surely he doesn't think that you or whoever takes Groomarc's place will keep him?"

Zelana laughed, "I like her. I see why you would offer her a partnership after so little time."

Graham smiled slightly as he closed the folder, "Yes, Willow has many attributes that caught my attention. We won't begin until it has been confirmed that the deposit has been made into our account. Once verified we'll begin and the job should be completed within ten days."

The demon stood and held out his claw, "Excellent. Once the house has been cleaned I'll have further work for you if you're interested."

"We don't work exclusively." Graham warned.

"Not a problem. As I said, I understand that once you've taken a side you stay loyal to that side."

The elevator door opened preventing any response from either Graham or Willow.

"You'll know when the job was completed."

Zelana nodded as the doors closed.

Willow waited until their driver pulled away before letting her mask fall. Her hands trembled ever so slightly and Graham reached over to entwine his fingers with hers. Willow laid her head on the back of the seat and thanked whoever was listening that she was given Graham as her partner in this mission.

"You did good, Rosenberg."

Willow turned her head to smile at Graham, "Thanks. I had a good teacher."

"Damn straight."