Ok ok so chapter 3 was slightly boring, I apologize for it now.

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Slade changed into his standard black and orange battle suit. He felt slightly vulnerable without his mask. A habit in desperate need of breaking. His thoughts were on the 'young' girl he'd met in the elevator.

"Shauni hm? Interesting name," He thought aloud. He looked down over the railing of the balcony at the many scientists and workers typing on their computer, testing their experiments, and watching the surveillance monitors. The woman that was stationed at the front desk and the hotel came up behind Slade. She bowed her head and waited for him to speak. "You've done well Dana. I'm impressed. The girl you contacted me about was a peculiar one indeed. If persuaded properly she could become quite useful," Dana merely smiled and stepped back among the shadows. She had been praised by the greatest criminal mind in Jump City. It was reward enough. Slade re-watched at the video of him and Shauni's conversation on the many monitors her had. "Let's just see what her first move will be," He looked over to an assistant that was standing by. "Prepare for her arrival. Retrieve the pentagram mat,"

"Demon in this day and age…" Shauni smirked sinisterly. "…this could be fun," She slipped on her boots and walked out the door. Shauni thought of the fun she could have with a demon while she rode the elevator down. The last time she battled a demon she was in her early years of 500. "Finally, something that could be challenging," The doors opened to a dark room. Absentmindedly, Shauni stepped out into the darkness. The only light came from the elevator which had closed abruptly. Shauni's eyes grew wide and her hearing increased as the adrenaline surged through her body. She took a step forward. Which she regretted the instant her foot touched the ground. The pentagram mat lit up and held Shauni in her place. She struggled frantically in vain to escape the mat's grasp on her. Slade chuckled in the darkness as a spotlight appeared over him.

"How very irresponsible of you Shauni. You fell right into a trap. That can't be good for ones health," He mocked.

"Fine. I admit it. You caught me, but what are you going to do now? What do you want with me?" Shauni asked folding her arms. She cursed and slapped herself for falling into such a primitive trap.

"I want to propose a temporary partnership,"

"I'm not interested,"

"Now, now Shauni. I'm not finished. You're an interesting…individual. I think I know where to find what you're searching for. What you've been searching for would be more precise," Shauni stiffened up a little.

"Who says I'm searching for anything?" Slade shook his head and started to circle her.

"Dear Shauni, I know what you are. You are a homunculus, correct? A homunculus's main goal is to seek out the true Philosopher's Stone. I know where it is," Shauni furrowed her brows in annoyance. He had caught her and her attention.

"So what? Are you going to tell me where it is or is there some catch? Some impossible deed you want me to do in exchange. Serve you forever and that sort of thing?" Shauni spoke in gesturation. "Blasted, greedy, humans! Scum of the Earth!"

"That wouldn't be a partnership for you to serve me. There is however one catch," Slade narrowed his eye and leaned in toward Shauni.

"I knew it! There's always a catch!"

"Destroy the Teen Titans," Slade folded his arms behind his back. "It should be simple for a being such as your self," Shauni snorted looked away.

"Your attempt to flatter me is almost insulting. I've dealt with your kind before. You expect me to do everything while you sit nice and cozy in your little lair watching. I have nothing against these Titans. No deal," Slade walked up closer to her. Shauni was about as stubborn as a rock and had a clever mind. She had fallen for the same thing more that once over her years on Earth and wasn't about to make the same mistake.

"I wouldn't be able to side step you Shauni. I will loan you some assistance in my request. As for the Titans, the Philosopher's Stone is somewhere in their tower. People are easy to search when they're dead, don't you agree?"

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It's a little short, but I hope you like it just the same. You can see a few drawings for Shauni at the address on my bio.