A door slammed somewhere downstairs. Big Mama looked up from her paperwork. She could hear loud stomping from all the way down at the main floor. Loud, angry stomps that only got louder as the owner of these footsteps made their way to the top floor- Big Mama's office. Yokai were diving out of the way of the angry oncomer. Staff were bowing low, some even on their knees, visibly shaking with fear.
Big Mama sighed and took a key from her pocket, unlocking a drawer on her desk and pulling out a small black envelope. She had hoped to be able to stretch what little time she had...
The door to her office slammed open as two shaken employees barged in. "B-B-Big M-Mama, i-it's..."
"Don't worry your little snickley-poos. I know who our friend is. I'll see to it nobody is burned, electrocuted, mauled or maimed." Big Mama waved away her workers. They were about to hurry out, but stopped when they saw her arrive at the top of the stairs. They scrambled back and got on their knees, bowing their heads in respect.
Through the door stepped two red knee-high high-heeled boots. Big Mama simply smiled.
"Hello, Princess. May I offer you a scrumptious drink? Tea? Or would you rather a coffee?"
A black, winding tail with a razor sharp blade on the end writhed in anger. Black, leathery wings were tightly folded. One gave an annoyed twitch. Clawed hands were so tightly balled up in fists that the knuckles were going white.
"I want my money."
"Of course, of course... Here." Big Mama slid the black envelope towards her.
The tail curled and uncurled. One clawed hand took the envelope. "Where's the rest?"
"You see, we've been having trouble with-"
Snarling, the newcomer slammed her hands on the desk. "WHERE'S THE REST?!"
"I-I d-don't-" Big Mama stuttered.
Two blue eyes were alight with anger. The tail slashed at one of the kneeling Yokai, cutting his arm open. He screamed and ran from the room, doors closing behind him. Big Mama's angry guest snapped her fingers, and all you could hear from outside was screaming in agony.
"Helen gave you two weeks to get the last hundred thousand you owe her, or she'll run your entire crime empire to the ground."
"I know, but we've been having itsy problems with these- well, with these turtley-boos. They always muck up my plans and cause such a messy mess." Big Mama explained. She was smiling, but inside, she was trembling. Not because of this unexpected guest. No, the princess, she could handle. It was her boss that scared Big Mama.
Helen Storm. The Shadow Queen. The one who owned New York's underground crime operations. She was brutal. She was the only one who had the power to destroy everything Big Mama had built. She was ruthless and powerful. She even had the prince and princess of Hell at her fingertips, the twin children of Satan himself. At first, Big Mama had been able to operate without interference, but now, the Shadow Queen had learned of the Hidden City, and had quickly taken a third of Big Mama's empire in one night. She had been forced to make a deal, paying the Shadow Queen every month.
Then her problems with the pesky turtles had begun. They meddled with her operations, causing her to lose money and come up short on her payment. She had begged for more time. She had been graciously given two weeks.
"Turtles? Interesting..." The princess tapped her claws on the desk, taking the envelope and throwing it casually through a portal, out of which shadows began slowly leaking. "My boys and I will deal with these turtles... Maybe." A malicious grin was spread across her face. "In the meantime, for every dollar that you haven't paid will be an hour of intense pain for you, until you have fully paid your debt, along with interest, of course."
"Interest?" Big Mama paled. "I am already paying 700 grand every month!"
"Don't like it? Take it up with Helen. I don't have time for your endless excuses." She turned, waving her tail. The portal closed. As she walked towards the door, it opened, revealing her four grinning henchmen, blood on their teeth and clothes.
Big Mama shivered. The princess was spontaneous, unpredictable. Sometimes she would even rough up some of Helen's henchmen for the taste of blood, or even screwed up a heist just to play hero. She had no qualms about messing in even the Shadow Queen's business. Whether or not she would take care of Big Mama's problems with the turtles was a toss up. She might even make them worse, just because.
"If you could please go into my safe and count our diamonds. I may have to pay in those and hope I am given mercy." Big Mama asked of her remaining staff member, who was still kneeling in terror. He nodded, and shakily headed out the door, peeking around corners to make sure he didn't run into the princess or her henchmen.
Big Mama rubbed her temples. She could already feel a migraine coming on, and groaned, knowing her punishment had begun.