Author's Note: This chapter might become part of "Burning Retributions". I'm still working out the details. Either way, consider what happened in the "Hellfire" chapter a prologue to this one. Also, for the Fenner brothers imdb has their name listed, but I don't know which one's which. I'm guessing the taller, skinnier one is "Harvey" and the shorter one is "Henry", but if someone can tell me if I'm wrong, I'd be most appreciative.

Song: "Be Prepared"

Original Movie: The Lion King

The Fenner Brothers realty office was hot to the point of sweltering most days, but on this particular day both of them were shivering, with no explanation as to why. They finished with their last customer (who kept complaining about the heat, causing both Harvey and Henry confusion), and shooed him out the door, Harvey locking up the second the patron's foot was clear.

"Well, that takes care of that," Harvey said, pulling his suit's jacket closer to him, his arms wrapping around his shoulders, hugging himself for warmth. "What you say we leave this paperwork for tomorrow?"

"I agree…" Henry nodded enthusiastically, and started gathering the files together to set them aside for tomorrow. He set them on top of a nearby filing cabinet, and nearly shrieked when the door flew open, a wind coming and knocking the files from their perch. "I…I thought you done locked that already…"

"I did," Harvey insisted. "You saw me lock it…I know I locked it…" His conviction seemed to fade, and now he couldn't recall if he really had locked the door or not. "It doesn't matter. We're 'bout to head out anyhow."

"Oh, what's the rush now, boys?"

Harvey and Henry both squeaked when they saw the tall man in their doorway. Given their knowledge of the layout of town they'd recognized the Shadow Man immediately. They also knew he was supposed to be dead.

"..Shadow Man," they both managed to whisper in the same horrified tone.

"Oh, no need for titles. I prefer to be called 'Dr.', after all…I am Facilier, and I've come to make a certain…arrangement with y'all. If you'd oblige me and listen to my uh…proposition?"

"Do we have a choice?" Harvey asked warily. Henry had already plopped down into the chair behind his desk.

Facilier chuckled. "Oh, there's always a choice, but you're gonna wanna be in on this deal, I assure you. Now, gentlemen," his head bobbed slightly in the direction of the door. It slammed shut again, the brothers both wincing at the noise. "I need y'all to do me a little favor…"

"We don't do freebies," Harvey was surprised at his own daring, but he and his brother had put a lot of work into this business. They were never soft on potential clients.

"Oh, it wouldn't be a freebie…not in the end, at least. Tell me, gentlemen, what property has the most value on it?"

"La Bouff manor," Harvey responded curtly. Facilier let out a small laugh.

"That one doesn't offer any returns, Mr. Fenner. Nothing but a commission from that. Now, if you were to run say…a restaurant, you could take in profits from it…"

"Only restaurant worth all that trouble is Miss Tiana's," Henry snorted. "And she ain't gonna sell, with all she went through to get it."

"What if she had no choice?"

The Fenners exchanged looks. "What do you mean?" Harvey asked.

"Say a little friendly competition proved to be too much for her…she'd be forced to sell her restaurant. And at a nice, cheap price. Y'all scoop it up and keep it, or sell it…whichever gets you more money."

"And what's in it for you?" Harvey asked suspiciously.

"I need a building for the competing restaurant. It doesn't have to look nice, I just need a building. Cheapest one you got will be fine."

"And we get Tiana's Palace, right? You won't take custody of it?"

Facilier nodded. "I have no interest in it. This is all…a very personal matter. You only have things to gain here, Mr. Fenner…and Mr. Fenner. Won't you join me and my friends?" Facilier extended his right hand. Henry shook first, and then Harvey did. The magic hit them at the same time, and both examined the palms of their hands in horror.

"What did you do?" Harvey demanded.

"Something y'all agreed to," Facilier said simply. "Remember our arrangement…" As quickly as he'd appeared, Facilier was gone again.

Harvey sunk into his chair. He was nervous over the idea of working with Facilier, but the voodoo man had made everything sound so wonderful. And the idea of owning Tiana's estate once more, now that it was worth a great deal more than her initial investment….the Fenner brothers were not ones to look past such an opportunity. Especially when they had no idea of the price they'd just paid.