It took nearly two hours to convert the rest of the congregation, but felt far longer. This was mainly due to some of the parishioners milking their moment for all it was worth, unaware that they were essentially consigning their souls to oblivion, Hell, or who knew where.

As a demon, Lily was fully aware that the afterlife wasn’t anything as simple as Heaven or Hell. It certainly wasn’t a binary situation, nor did Purgatory count for all the souls in-between. Did true salvation exist? Supposedly. But that was true of most religions that tried to lay a path for people to follow. 

So as each person gave away their free will forevermore, she wondered how many of them would find a second chance. Were they trapped in a body that didn’t obey their commands? Or had they become so fully entrenched in Deacon’s bullshit that they believed they were hearing the voice of God in their head?

Honestly, it didn’t matter. These people had fallen for the act, hook, line, and sinker, and were now part of a gross violation of whatever pact had been established by the higher-ups. Even now, she could feel Legion’s power swelling as he took control of those souls and wrapped them around his true self like a shield.

Speaking of Legion’s true self, even after hours of observation, she still couldn’t pick out where the bastard was hiding. Based on what she knew about the creation of Leeds, somebody here was personally hosting the demon. Legion Prime certainly hadn’t been close enough for Lily to spot, but every now and then, she could sense his presence like a heavy weight in the center of her chest. The Prime was clearly here, and had made certain to squirrel himself away where Lily wouldn’t spot him.

As the last parishioner gave themselves into Legion’s dark embrace, Deacon visibly relaxed and sat back against the stage. His daughter brought him a bottle of water, which he cracked open and sucked down in a matter of moments. Once finished, he handed the empty bottle back and wandered over toward Lily’s cage.

“What a performance, right?” He held his hand out toward the now silent congregation behind him. “It takes some time, but the results are certainly worth it.”

Lily scowled at him through the bars, but said nothing. There really wasn’t much to say to the man.

“Having you here helped. We usually use the girl, tell everyone she’s been driven mad by the devil or whatever. It’s pretty much an art form.”

“You’re sick,” she replied. “Using a vampire child is probably the worst of it. Why not send a personal invite to Lucifer himself?”

“Oh, we are definitely not on speaking terms.” This came from a young woman, one of Legion’s new meat suits. “He caught wind of a previous project of mine and shut it down. I personally think he was jealous of everything I had already accomplished, to be honest.”

“He always was a proud bastard,” muttered a different Legion.

Deacon chuckled and pulled something out of his pocket. It was a small vial full of white powder. Without wasting another second, he unscrewed the lid and snorted the vial of powder up his nose.

“Need a little bump after saving so many souls?” Lily sneered at the man. “You don’t get high on the big guy anymore?”

“Just keeping my head in the game until sunrise,” he replied, then stuck the vial back in his pocket. “We’re expecting a very special guest tonight, and I want to make sure I’m awake for it.”

Lily moved away from the bars. “Oh? Should I change into something special?”

Deacon frowned, then shook his head. “You have to understand that this man is not to be trifled with. You’re a demon, I get it. You’re built to seduce and antagonize. I’ll warn you now that antagonizing this man won’t get you the reaction you want. At best, he ignores you.”

“Ooh, I’m so scared.”

Timotei, who had wandered over, smacked one of the bars, causing it to hum in vibration. “You should be. This man likes to take things apart and see how they work. And you? You are a thing to him.”

Lily frowned at the vampyr, who actually looked concerned. “Wait, you’re serious? You all are scared of this guy?”

A nearby Legion nodded. “He’s been around for centuries and we don’t know much about him. I worked with him once on a project. It was one time too many.”

“But on the plus side, he paid handsomely.” Deacon gestured at the building around them. “When I tell people I came from nothing, it’s true. But the Curator, well, he provides. This little experiment of ours was so interesting that he secured us several locations like this one, scattered across the countryside. A safe place for Legion to create his flock.”

Lily looked from Deacon to Timotei, then turned to the nearest Legion. “So, what, you’re afraid he’s going to drop by and take away your toys?”

“I’m terrified he’s gonna take away my life.” Deacon pulled a rag out of his pocket and mopped gently at his forehead. “He was convinced this experiment of Legion’s had merit, and his early support was paramount to our success. Money doesn’t matter to this man, nor does power, it would seem. He collects people and things he finds interesting, then takes them apart to see how they tick. That’s all that motivates him, satisfying his macabre personality. And when he comes here looking for his werewolf, he’s going to be pissed.”

“And we’re blaming it on you,” Legion added. “You are our sacrificial lamb.”

“Oh, are you scared that I’ll hurt his feelings and he’ll take it out on you?”

Deacon snorted. “We’re more scared that he’ll take you apart and make us watch. I don’t give a damn what happens to you.”

“You three are the biggest pussies I’ve ever met.” Lily crossed her arms, realization dawning. “You essentially hunkered down and built yourself a small army in case the Curator decides he wants to pick a fight.”

“Correction. I built an army in case we need to get away.” The closest Legion waggled his finger at Lily. “If the Curator decides he’s done with us, it’s every man for himself. I have plenty of bodies to slow him down, but that’s it. ”

“He’s a busy man. If we survive tonight, it’s likely he won’t come after us. The Curator is wired differently.” Deacon tapped his temple knowingly. “He doesn’t do revenge, but he hates being inconvenienced. We have enough funding in our coffers to start anew on our own, but we’ll have to do it far away from here.”

“P-u-s-s-i-e-s. Pussies.” Lily signed the word for pussies, in case she wasn’t making her point clear. “I can’t believe I’m being held captive by the equivalent of three teenagers who are afraid daddy is gonna whip out the belt when he gets home.”

Timotei growled and kicked the bars. Deacon sighed and gestured for the vampyr to step away.

“I don’t care what you think of us,” he said. “But as I said before, the Curator values his time far more than our lives, which means it’s time to go back in your box.” He dismissed her with a wave, and a group of Legion slaves wandered in from backstage, each one holding a piece of the box they had transported her in.

Lily narrowed her eyes at Deacon. “I just want to remind you that my time isn’t that valuable. When I get out of this, I’m coming for you.”

“You’ll have to go through me first.” This Legion was an older woman with thick curls of white that stopped just below her ears. When the vampyr growled, she rolled her eyes. “And Timotei, too.”

“Such a loyal lapdog,” Lily muttered as her cell door was opened. She glared at them as they began the process once again of boxing her up. “You think you’re afraid of this Curator guy? Wait until you hear about the guy I’m seeing now.”

They continued to ignore her as she was pinned in place by magic and the walls were erected. She settled into the lotus position in an attempt to calm her mind and allow her to concentrate on any sounds that might permeate the box. Even Spirit Mike kept quiet as time passed, and it was another two hours before she heard the faint rustling of movement outside of her cell.

Opening her eyes to darkness, she heard some words exchanged, but couldn’t even make out the gender of the speaker. After a few minutes of tense silence, the box shifted as someone started undoing the bolts on the outside.

“So what will it be?” she asked herself. “The princess or the tiger? The demon or the dead girl?”

The top flap of the box was yanked away, bathing Lily in bright light as the spell broke and she was allowed to stand. Turning around to see if it was Dana or the Curator, her mouth dropped open upon discovering that it was neither.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” she whispered in horror.

Backlit by a pair of theater lights, Eulalie hefted Mace over one shoulder and narrowed her human eyes at Lily, a grim expression on her face. She held her free hand out to assist Lily’s exit.

“I am here to kick ass and chew bubblegum.” Her lips curled into a sadistic smile. “Do I even need to say the next part?”

Lily opened her mouth to argue, maybe even scream at the Arachne that she needed to leave right away. However, she was interrupted by the sound of metal on concrete, followed by a yell of pain.

“What was that?” she demanded.

“The cavalry.” Eulalie tossed the lid to one side and extended a hand. “The bad news is that the timer has been set. Any minute now, Legion will know that we’re here.”

“And the good news?” Dread bloomed in Lily’s stomach, because she recognized the glint in Eulalie’s eyes. The Arachne hefted Mace onto her shoulder and licked her lips.

“I won’t have to hunt them down.”

---

The sweltering heat of an Alabama evening had sweat pouring down Tasia’s skin, making her smell like a human salt-lick. Dana fought the urge to lick the werewolf, but wasn’t entirely adverse to shifting her body every now and then just to feel Tasia’s breasts press against her arm. She had already consumed the remainder of Mike’s spooge, aware that it wouldn’t keep much longer in this heat. The sexual energy building inside of her wasn’t as prevalent as before, making her wonder if the semen had already lost some of its potency.

For perhaps the millionth time, Dana hoped she could eventually find something a little more normal to eat.

“Okay, I’m going to need a break soon.” Tasia tripped over a rock, nearly dropping Dana. “Being the hero is hard on my legs.”

“They really are nice legs,” added Dana. “Especially your thighs.”

“I’m glad you’re feeling better, but I’m not going to lie. The whole tampon thing you’ve got going on? Kind of gross.”

“That’s fair.” Dana tugged on the string hanging out of her gut and pulled it out. The ziplock baggie in her pocket came out, and she tucked the bloodied thing away.

“Speaking of your potentially diseased blood, what about mosquitos? They’re eating me alive. Could they transfer your condition to somebody else if they bit you, then bit someone else?”

“No, for two reasons.” Dana held up a finger. “One. They aren’t biting me. They hunt using carbon dioxide, and I don’t really breathe out unless I’m talking. Also, my blood is…gross. Stagnant, really. The equivalent of sniffing sewer water and deciding to drink it anyway.”

“And two?”

“I’ve been bitten a couple of times by bugs. They die.”

Tasia set Dana down on a rotting stump and sat next to her with a groan. “I thought you said the mosquitos don’t bite you.”

“They haven’t. But I do a lot of work with my hands. I’ve startled a couple of spiders that way, and they’ll bite to protect their webs or whatever. It’s pretty surreal to feel something bite you, then watch it tumble off and die.” Dana thought back to a conversation that she had with Eulalie. The Arachne had gone through the house and gently explained to the spiders living throughout that they were to either hit the road or remain hidden away, but that biting anybody would result in immediate death. Mike had followed up with the arachnids afterward, and just the idea that the two of them had become King and Queen Spider of the Radley house was a little silly. She had once walked into the kitchen to see Mike arguing with a wolf spider that was mad about how clean the pantry was because it hadn’t attracted enough bugs to eat.

Not that she could share any of this with Tasia. Once this whole thing was over, Dana hoped to introduce her to Mike and see what he thought of the werewolf. The idea of Tasia remaining on the run forever made Dana sad, but house business was definitely Mike’s responsibility.

“How are they biting you?” asked Dana. “Isn’t your skin extra thick or something?”

Tasia frowned. “I may have supernatural strength and endurance, but you know that I’m not bulletproof. Bugs have evolved over millions of years to eat whatever the fuck they want. I’m just a slightly chewier snack.”

Dana licked her lips, her eyes on Tasia’s legs. “You’re a whole meal, if you know what I mean.”

“Seriously? In the middle of an Alabama swamp?”

“I may be dead, but I’m not in the ground yet.” Dana grunted as she forced one of her feet to wiggle. “See? I’ve still got game.”

“Dead and horny. You should put that on your dating profile.”

“If you swipe right, I promise I won’t bite.”

Tasia laughed, then covered her mouth. “Shit, this is so unprofessional of me. Your bad habits are rubbing off on me.”

“I would like to attribute most of those bad habits to Lily.” Dana leaned forward and started massaging her legs. During the process of stretching her back, she felt a cold sensation like an icepick drive straight down through her spine. Her other leg started tingling as the nerves finally reconnected. “Ah, there it is.”

“Legs?” asked Tasia.

“Yeah. Spinal stuff is always weird. As long as you can get muscle and bones realigned, the nerves usually seek each other out. With your spinal cord, though, there’s nothing really there to push it into place.”

“You’ve been paralyzed before?”

Dana nodded. “Broke my neck after a trip through a wall. Stuff doesn’t hurt, but it can be pretty disorienting.”

“Have you ever lost a finger or something?”

“Chopped off my legs to fly to Hawaii in a suitcase.”

Tasia’s jaw dropped. “Are you fucking serious?”

“I’m fucking nobody right now. Next time you see me naked, I’ll show you the scars. They’ve thinned out, so you’ll have to get close.” Dana traced lines along the edge of her groin. “Lucky me.”

“So it’s always like this? Spring Break horny while you’re on the mend?”

“Yep.” Dana wiggled her toes experimentally. “It can be distracting, but it is what it is. At least I’m physically incapable of dying from embarrassment.”

“Oh, that’s a good one. Are the jokes a side effect of your magic smoothies, too?”

Dana opened her mouth to respond, then paused to consider. Her sense of humor had been obliterated upon dying, but what now stood in its place was very reminiscent of what came out of Mike these days. “Huh. That’s a good question, actually. This whole…issue of mine has a lot of facets.”

Tasia bobbed her head in agreement. “I definitely get that. Before and after the change, it was explained to me that lycanthropy was still a big mystery. For example, the kind of wolf someone might become isn’t based on a specific trait, but it usually makes sense in hindsight. The wolf itself is like a deep dive through both your psyche and your DNA.” She held her hands up, keeping the fingers on one straight while curving the others. When she slid them through each other, the curved fingers bent at odd angles, causing only a couple to emerge from the other side. “Where science and magic meet, there is always an element of chaos.”

“Tell me about it. There’s someone I…know that is fairly advanced in terms of her magical knowledge. Even she hasn’t seen or heard of anyone with my unique condition.” Dana had become so comfortable with Tasia that she had almost admitted that a naga lived with her. Even now, she had scooted against the log and had tilted her head to rest against Tasia’s shoulder. “I do a lot of experiments of my own, actually.”

“Like what?”

Dana contemplated how much to share. “Those drones were one of them. I’ve been using them to scout an area with an unusually disruptive magical field, which required months of learning how to shield them.”

“We have an entire branch of the Order dedicated to that sort of thing.” Tasia sighed, and her shoulders slumped. “Not that it matters, now that I’m on their hit list. I’m just thrilled you didn’t have to dig another silver bullet out of me.”

“Getting shot sucks. One of your guys got me in the brain one time.”

“Really? When was this?”

“Down in the pit.” Dana tapped her temple. “It missed motor function and hit the thinky part. Have you ever had a dream while you’re still drunk? Was a lot like that.”

“I got bitten by a Krasue once.”

“What’s that?” asked Dana.

“Best way to describe it is the floating head of a woman with her guts hanging free, comes out to hunt for people at night. Southeastern Asia has some of the spookier spirits in my experience. We were hunting it at night, and this thing nearly took my partner Amida’s hand off and…anyway, it got a piece of me, too. We managed to track it down and take it out a couple of days later. Between the nasty infection I got and the weird fever dreams, I think I know what you’re talking about.”

“You hunt a lot of monsters?”

Tasia shrugged. “Not as many as you might think. That whole thing in Hawaii was supposed to be a capstone for me. Master Cyrus was doing some field training and evaluations, and Brother Amida signed on for a chance to work with the man. You would have liked him. Amida, I mean. Far more level-headed than me.”

A moment of silence stretched between them, and Dana realized she should probably say something. “I wish I could have gotten to know him,” was what she eventually went with.

“Yeah, he was a good guy. I was actually scared during my transformation, because some werewolves see restless spirits. I had it in my head that I might wake up and he would be hanging around to tell me what a fucking mess I’ve made of everything. I was already in a dark place. That probably would have sent me over the edge.”

The werewolf went quiet and the two sat in silence, listening to the nocturnal symphony of insects in the swamp. In the distance, something let out a rumble that sounded vaguely like a motorcycle.

“What was that?” asked Dana.

“A gator. We’re out in the middle of nowhere and this is their territory.”

“Should we be worried about them?” Dana started to rise, but Tasia patted her gently on the shoulder.

“No, we’re good. Most animals have a sense about what they shouldn’t mess with. You’d think gators are dumb, but you have to remember that they’re all instinct. When something like me comes around, they tend to run off and…” Tasia’s voice drifted and she went silent. Dana tilted her head up to see that the werewolf was staring off into the distance.

“You okay?”

“What? Yeah, just thinking about something. When I landed in Florida, I had a run-in with a massive gator.”

“Better than Florida Man,” Dana replied, tapping her feet on the ground to test them out.

“It’s not that, it’s…” Tasia’s face was hard to make out in the dark, but she had started rocking on her log. “Holy shit.”

Dana stood on wobbly legs before losing her balance and sitting abruptly next to Tasia. The werewolf was breathing through her mouth now, her body language suddenly dangerous.

“You okay?”

“No. I’m not.” Tasia turned to look at Dana, and it was clear her face had shifted slightly into wolf mode. “I was just wondering if that big gator was running from something that spooked it.”

“Like what?”

“The guy who put me in this position.” She shivered, then scooted closer to Dana. Her body was hot to the touch. “Someone has been hunting down Order operatives, and I think he may have been snooping around one of our secret bases. If that’s true, he was probably there when I arrived.”

“Why?”

“That’s just it, we don’t know. He almost exclusively targets older members, which means he was probably after the woman he killed at the real estate office. But the real problem here is he knew where to look.” Tasia looked at Dana. “The Order has so many locations across the world, I doubt anyone knows all of them. So how did he track a specific agent down to one hideout in the middle of nowhere?”

Dana shrugged. “I guess the bigger question is why did he wait to get her later? If he’s such a badass, then why the sudden caution at your arrival? Based on what you told me about your capture, your monster status was a bit of a surprise.”

Tasia dropped her hands to the log beneath her and started tearing long strips of wood away with her elongated nails. “That’s right. That guy stayed behind to make sure I was captured, but made it sound like I was just a bonus. Damn, I feel like it’s right on the tip of my tongue.”

They sat in silence, Tasia quietly stripping bark with her fingers until the phone in Dana’s bag vibrated. She pulled it out and put it on speakerphone.

“Why are you two just standing there?” asked Eulalie. “Wait, are you fucking? Or did you just fuck?”

“Right to the point, this one,” grumbled Tasia.

“Not yet,” replied Dana. “What do you have for us?”

“You’re still a few miles out from the church, but I have something for you that can’t wait. Those demons you’ve been running from? All one demon.”

“What?” Tasia actually stood up.

“Yeah, that’s what I said. One demon, lots of meat suits.”

“How do you know that?” asked Dana.

“Lily told me. She’s fine, by the way. Just needs someone to pull her butt out of the fire.”

“That’s not possible,” Tasia said, speaking over Eulalie. “Demons can only possess one body at a time.”

“Not this one, apparently. He found a way to bypass the rules. It’s why you couldn’t track him with the pendulum, it was pointing to his nearest vessels or whatever. I didn’t get much more from Lily before he caught on that I was talking to her.”

“Did he hack into your call?” asked Tasia.

“Yes, actually.”

“Fuck.” Tasia shook her head. “A demon who can possess multiple people and hear your phone calls. That elevates the risk substantially. Add in the vampire, and we’re woefully unprepared.”

“Which is why I need the two of you to hurry up and get there. I’ve got a plan that hinges on having a pair of tough bitches.”

“Don’t be rude,” said Dana.

“I’m not, I’m being cautious. The moment a paranormal entity jacked into my phone call, I realized that more precautions are needed. I had the rats do a sweep of where Lily is being held. There are some armed guards at the border, but that’s it for heavy weaponry. The vampire is your main issue.”

“He won’t be nearly as hard this time.” Tasia made a fist, her knuckles cracking dramatically when she squeezed. “I can go full wolf on him.”

“What do we need to do to kill a vampire?” asked Dana.

“I checked with my sources,” said Eulalie. “If he really is old school, you cut off his head and then stab him through the heart.”

“I would like to point out that you can kill anybody that way.”

“If he really is an old school vamp, you’re not even technically killing him. The only reason you do both is a headless vampire can’t control their limbs to pull out the stake. Stabbing it through the heart weakens the body so that it can’t go find the head and reattach it. If you do both, they enter a sort of hibernation until they finally expire sometime later. It’s a whole thing.”

“Modern day ones are far more fragile,” added Tasia. “Stake through the heart will do it. Sunlight will incinerate the weaker ones. They don’t have enough stolen lifeforce in their veins to persist.”

“So what’s the deal with the cross?” asked Dana.

“Guilt, maybe? The jury is out on that one. But for whatever reason, the permission to enter thing is real. Nobody knows why. The one chasing you actually got permission to enter your Florida rental from the landlord. I already left them a 1-star review.”

“Wow, what a punishment.” Tasia crossed her arms. “I’m sure someone will really lose sleep over that.”

“I’m already on one quest for revenge. I’ll add them to the list.”

“Okay, so what’s the plan? Sneak in, grab Lily, then bail?”

Eulalie was silent for several seconds before she cleared her throat. “Well…no. You see, based on everything I can tell, all of the demon’s meat suits will be in one place.”

“And?” Dana made sure to add an edge to her voice.

“And what? You’ve discovered a demon’s nest, so you burn it to the ground. Based on what I already know, this isn’t a small issue. It’s actually bad enough that I’d recommend the Order get involved if they weren’t so eager to put a bullet in both of you.”

“I’m actually with her on this.” Tasia was staring at the phone, her face lit by the glow of the display. “We’re looking at the supernatural equivalent of a virus, ready to explode. This Deacon guy, he’s been doing his hustle for years, and I’m willing to bet it’s part of the demon’s game. It’ll only get worse from here.”

Dana sighed, realizing that she wasn’t going to get either of them to back down. “So it’s not just a rescue mission, then.”

“Lily is a heavy hitter. They’re keeping her in an iron cage near the main hall, or whatever it’s called where the congregation is. Once she’s out of her prison, the three of you will be more than enough for the demon or the priest.”

“And what about the vampire?”

Eulalie grunted. “I have a plan for him, too.”

“And do we get to hear this plan?”

There was another long pause, and Dana briefly wondered if they disconnected. “Not yet. My rats are all over the church right now. I’ll have something for you when you get there. I have to go. Turn your phone off when you’re close. I don’t want the demon noticing you by accident.”

The connection terminated and Dana slid the phone into her pocket. She inhaled deeply through her nose, taking in the scent of the swamp, then let it all out with an exasperated sigh.

“So much for my swamp hookup,” she muttered, then did a couple of leg bends to make sure they worked correctly.

“That’s quite the assumption,” Tasia said. “What makes you think I’d hook up with you out here?”

“Because you belong outside, in the middle of nature. It’s far more comfortable than the back of a rental car, and I would have eaten you out until you screamed my name.” Dana’s thighs suddenly itched, but she ignored it. “I would have been very persuasive.”

Tasia chuckled. “Maybe we can make time for it after we murder some demons.”

“For the record, I still think it’s a bad idea.” Dana slid the backpack onto her shoulders. “Eulalie isn’t thinking.”

“The Rat Queen?”

“Yeah. This demon we’re hunting is the reason her sister got murdered. She’s far too emotionally invested.”

“Sometimes being emotionally invested makes you stronger,” Tasia pointed out. “Gives you inner strength.”

“While removing perspective.” Dana checked the map on her phone again, then turned in the direction of the church. “So you’re planning to go full wolf when we get there?”

“I am.” The two of them started walking, the ground squishing under their feet. “I’m far stronger as the wolf, but you know that.”

“I remember. Little slow with the sword, though.”

Tasia snorted. “Yeah, that’s my own stupid fault. Order swords are enchanted. It physically hurts me to touch it when I’m transformed. When I’m the wolf, it’s like a tightrope between logic and instinct. Logic dictates I use the blade. Instinct says to use my teeth.”

“So stop overthinking.” Dana patted Tasia on the butt. “Become the proper murder machine you were meant to be, then reel it back in when you need to think things through.”

“You say that like it’s so easy.”

“Oh, trust me. I know exactly how hard it is. That’s why I have someone like Lily around. As counterintuitive as this sounds, she helps keep me grounded.”

“A good partner always should.”

The two of them hiked through the swamp, occasionally wading through bogs that came up to their hips. The swamp went quiet at their approach, followed by the sound of animals scurrying away from them through the brush. Cicadas would occasionally blast the air with mating songs, clearly not worried about the duo as they wandered the marsh.

Eventually, distant lights appeared through the thick vegetation, and the two of them started climbing a long, sloped yard with tall grass. They barely had to crouch to remain unseen as they reached the edge of the property. A makeshift parking lot was packed with cars and with Deacon’s tour bus parked right next to the building. The building itself was slightly ramshackle, but some improvements had been recently made. It was far larger than expected, and had what looked like living quarters built along the south side.

Dana made sure to text Eulalie then turn off her phone as they made their final approach. A small group of men patrolled the grounds with rifles loosely held against their bodies.

“What a bunch of suckers,” Tasia muttered.

“I’m sure they’re making good money,” Dana replied. “It’s a nice night out, get a little exercise in, what more could you want?”

“How many of them are we going to kill tonight?” Tasia turned toward Dana with a grim smile.

“Honestly, not many as long as they’re good little boys and run away once the shit hits the fan.” Dana studied the church. “Best point of entry?”

“I’m still looking…what about there?” Tasia pointed at a window up on the second floor that had been left open. “That may be our best point of entry.”

“I can make it, but can you?” Dana arched an eyebrow.

“Please. I was a knight of the Order long before I was a werewolf.”

They crouched down amongst the foliage and waited for an opening. Soon enough, it came when one of the guards on rotation stopped to listen to something on the radio clipped to his vest. Dana and Tasia sprinted toward the house, keeping low and out of the lights shed by the nearby windows. When they reached the house, Tasia went first. The werewolf leapt into the air, grabbing the window sill with her fingertips and pulling herself inside. Unable to match that feat, Dana did a wall run that got her high enough for Tasia to pull her inside.

The room was an office with a small bed in the corner. On the bed was an open suitcase packed full of women’s clothes. A simple nightgown had been laid out next to the luggage, and a dress hung from a hanger on a nearby coat rack.

“The daughter, I’m guessing.” Tasia sniffed the air and wrinkled her nose. “Damn, this whole building stinks of demon. It’s all I can smell.”

“Shh.” Dana moved to the door and put her ear against it. “That’s weird, it’s so quiet. Isn’t this place packed with people?”

“It’s supposed to be. But are they normal people, or demon people? If they’re all one demon, they don’t need to talk to each other, which just leaves Deacon and the vampire.”

“And the daughter.” Dana moved back over to the luggage and rifled through its innards. There were a few romance novels tucked beneath the clothes, along with a vibrator and a chocolate stash. She picked up a candy bar and showed it to Tasia. “Can you still eat chocolate?”

“I’m not dignifying that with a response.”

A bright light swept across the yard outside, and Dana moved to the window. A car had turned onto the long drive, its headlights pointed at the church. Frowning, she looked at Tasia.

“Someone else is here.”

“And? The more the merrier at this point.” Tasia took the candy bar from Dana and unwrapped it. “I’m fucking starved.”

“Just don’t make yourself sick.” Dana was about to crack the door when she heard footsteps in the hall. She moved back from the door, but whoever it was kept going. Through the wall, she could hear Deacon muttering.

“Thar e ith,” mumbled Tasia around her chocolate bar. She swallowed hard and smacked her sternum with a closed fist. “Deacon. He sounds upset.”

“About what?”

“Hold on.” Tasia moved to the door and put her ear against it, then held a finger to her lips. “He’s talking to someone else. They’re going down to meet somebody.”

The knight put her hand on the knob and slowly turned it, then cracked the door open to peek outside. She gestured for Dana to follow, and the two of them moved out into the hallway. The hallway turned out to be a balcony overlooking a full congregation of people. Down below, the crowd all had their eyes fixed on a set of double doors, as if waiting for the bride to enter at a wedding.

They crouched down and moved along the hall, keeping their eyes on the people below. There was a large area that was currently obscured by a curtain, but it was on the other side of the building. Thinking that’s where Lily was being kept, Dana tapped on Tasia’s shoulder and motioned in that direction. The werewolf nodded and continued on her path, stopping near the end of the hall.

A small bridge connected the two sides of the building, but it was rather exposed. As far as Dana could tell, nobody was looking, but she also couldn’t see everybody beneath them. Frowning, she scanned the area, wondering if there was a stairwell or something she had missed.

The double doors opened, and an ominous figure in a tan duster and a wide-brimmed wool hat stepped through, his shoulders so wide they brushed the half-open doorway. A chill went through the air, and the entire congregation stood at attention.

“Where is my werewolf, Deacon?” The man’s voice had a rich timbre that echoed through the room, but it was cold and sharp, like a knife. She couldn’t see his face, but it was clear he was surveying the room.

Deacon stumbled through the door, sweat pouring down his face. His jaw moved as if he was chewing when he spoke.

“There was a complication,” he began, then went still when the hat man turned to face him.

“I am not one of your sheep, Osgrove.” Hat Man grabbed Deacon’s collar in a meaty fist and pulled him forward. “Do you have her?”

Dana looked at Tasia, and was stunned to see that her features had gone white with terror. She was perfectly still, her eyes wide like a deer caught in headlights. When Dana turned back to the scene below, she saw that the vampire had pulled Deacon free of the big man’s grip.

“No, but—” Deacon didn’t get a chance to finish. The Hat Man reached for the nearest person, an older woman with short hair in a blazer, and pulled her toward him. He hooked his fingers into her collarbones and pressed down, then out. In one swift motion, he ripped her ribcage open, spraying the hall and floor with blood. A ripple of shock went through the people below, but they otherwise remained silent.

“I spent half a day coming out here, Deacon.” Hat Man leveled a bloody finger in Osgrove’s direction. “Tell me I haven’t wasted my time.”

“Y-y-y-you d-did not.” It was all Deacon could do to get the words out. “W-we have something else for you…instead!”

Hat Man sighed. “And?”

“A succubus. We’ve got her in the loading bay, behind the kitchen.”

“Insufficient.” Hat Man reached for a man in his Sunday best, then paused to survey the room. “Ah. I see. You knew this was coming.”

“I saw it as a possibility, yes,” replied the old man. “I’ve worked too hard to see it all come undone.”

Hat Man looked at Deacon and his vampire, who had taken several steps back by now. “And you think all of your puppets can stop me?”

“No.” The old man shook his head. “I may be damned, but I’m realistic.”

“I see.” Hat Man reached into his coat and pulled out a rag, which he used to wipe the blood off his hands. “You were prepared to flee because you knew that what you had wasn’t good enough and hoped I wouldn’t come after you. Astute.”

“Hey.” Dana looked at Tasia, who was still motionless. “What’s wrong with you?”

The werewolf didn’t reply. Instead, she let out a nearly silent whine.

“Perhaps it’s time you all had a reminder of who you are dealing with.” Hat Man stuck his rag back in his coat. “So I’ve decided I’m taking the girl with me, the one you keep locked up in her coffin.”

“No!” The vampire threw himself at Hat Man, who casually swatted him away.  The vampire hit a nearby support beam so hard that the wood splintered and broke apart.

“Oh, yes,” replied the man in the hat. “She will be an interesting specimen to study.”

“No, please, anything but that!” The vampire fell to his knees and said something in a language Dana didn’t understand. The man in the hat responded in kind, and the vampire moved to attack him again, but was knocked away.

“Where?” asked Hat Man. When nobody answered, he moved with incredible speed, ripping the arm off of the well-dressed man. The guy wavered for a moment before collapsing on the ground. 

“Where?” he repeated, then grabbed another nearby parishioner and crushed their skull in his hands. 

“Holy fuck,” Dana whispered. Just who was this guy?

“Where?” asked Hat Man again as he moved into the hall. An elderly woman with a walker sighed and gestured to a spot Dana couldn’t see.

“In a truck out back,” she muttered. When the vampire cried out, she just shook her head. “Running isn’t an option anymore, Timotei.”

Timotei screamed insults in his native tongue, then tried to attack Hat Man yet again. The man slammed the vampire onto the ground and grabbed a splinter of wood from the nearby shattered column. With a practiced motion, he shoved the wood through Timotei’s chest.

“That will keep you,” he muttered, then turned to walk out the front door. When the doors closed, Tasia took Dana by the hand and tugged her toward the bridge. Everybody was busy watching either the door or the vampire struggling on the ground, so they crossed unseen. Once in the stairwell at the opposite end, Tasia paused long enough to lean against the wall and catch her breath.

“What the hell is going on with you?” asked Dana.

“I’ve never felt anything like it,” Tasia replied. “Remember that whole thing about gators from earlier? Where they instinctively know not to fuck with something?”

Dana nodded.

“That man is not to be fucked with. C’mon, let’s get your demon and bail, I’m not sticking around just in case he comes back.” Tasia grabbed the railing and vaulted down the stairs, landing in a silent crouch on the landing. Dana followed, repeating the feat, and they were now in an offshoot hallway away from the chapel area. “Kitchen should be this way.”

The kitchen had a set of double doors that swung open both ways, similar to a restaurant. When they entered, the counters were stacked high with sandwiches and bottled water. Tasia put her hands on one of the counters and leaned over it, gasping for air.

“Hey, we’re almost there.” Dana put a hand on Tasia’s shoulder, which she shrugged off.

“I know, I’m sorry. My heart is pounding so hard right now, I just need another second.” Tasia tensed up when somebody screamed outside. Dana moved to the nearest window and looked out to see Hat Man strolling across the yard with a small coffin hoisted up on his shoulder. Behind him, Timotei was shrieking in fury, his torso a mess of blood.

“He got what he wanted,” Dana said, then moved to the far end of the kitchen where a warehouse-style door was. She slid the door open and was immediately greeted by the sight of three figures standing in the gloom of the loading dock. They turned in unison, the light of the kitchen revealing three men carrying guns. There was a moment of hesitation as both parties came to a halt.

“Fuck me,” Dana muttered, then leapt forward before they could open fire.

---

Tasia watched Dana launch herself forward, catching the man in the front with a devastating knee to the jaw that rendered him immediately unconscious. On her way down, she drew her sword and brought it across the man to her left, which meant one remained on the right.

Moving fast, Tasia grabbed the barrel of the rifle as it was brought up and used her other hand to flip the safety back on. There was a moment of shock for the guard when he realized his gun didn’t fire, but Tasia head butted him so hard that his nose burst like a balloon.

“That was close.” Dana was crouched down over the man she had just killed, checking his pockets. “I thought for sure one of them would get a shot off.”

“We’re in the clear, but it won’t be long before someone tries to check in with them. You don’t pay good money for this kind of security without redundancies.” Tasia dug through the man’s pockets until she found his radio, which she crushed. He groaned in pain, and she pushed him onto his side so that he wouldn’t drown in his own blood.

“Duly noted.” Dana removed the radio from the unconscious man’s collar, then yanked the microphone cord out. When she finished, she turned around and pulled the warehouse door shut. “I really hope the demon wasn’t lying, because if this doesn’t work, we’re screwed.”

“You’re screwed either way.”

Dana spun in place and smiled when Lily stepped around a set of shelves stacked high with boxes. She rushed to the succubus and threw her arms around the demon, squeezing tightly.

“Now, now, let’s keep the public displays of affection to a minimum in front of our guest.” The succubus hugged Dana back, despite her words. “Thanks for coming for me.”

“Always.” Dana took a step back and gestured at Tasia. “You remember our friend from Hawaii.”

Lily nodded, lines of concern appearing on her face. “I do. Listen, we have a problem.”

“That mother fucker in the hat? Yeah, we know. Look, we were completely on board with Eulalie’s plan to wipe out the demon’s nest, but there’s been a change of circumstances. Somebody else is here, and he mopped the floor with that vampire and ripped apart a couple of people without even breaking a sweat.” Dana watched Lily blink in surprise. “Wait, you didn’t know?”

“They call him the Curator, and they’re scared of him. No, the problem I’m referring to is—”

Lily didn’t get a chance to finish. Around the corner stepped a monstrosity with several legs and the chitinous body of an arachnid below the torso of a human woman. The creature gave a shy wave to Dana, then looked at Tasia.

“I’m Eulalie, the rat queen. It’s a pleasure to finally meet… okay, yeah, get it out of your system.” 

Tasia had backed into the nearest wall, her hands scrambling for something to grab onto. Though the effect was nowhere near as bad as with the mysterious Hat Man, this easily took second place. Based on her limited experiences, she was looking at a creature that was considered extinct long ago, and couldn’t be allowed to live.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” Dana stepped past Lily and shoved the Arachne, causing her to take a step backward. “Someone might see you!”

“Someone already has. As for your first question, I’m here for revenge. That was the point of this whole thing, right?” Eulalie pointed toward the closed doors. “If I remember correctly, you felt like you were outgunned by Count Chocula out there.”

“I didn’t mean you should come here!” Dana pressed her lips together into a thin line. “You said you had something to help with the vampire!”

“I do. Me.” Eulalie sighed and looked at Tasia. “Look, I’m going to need you to speed up your mental breakdown. We have a very busy evening ahead of us.”

“You’re…” Tasia blinked several times and shook her head.

“She’s a spider, you’re a dog, get over it.” Lily spun on Eulalie. “Where did you come in?”

“And why didn’t you bring us right here? We had to walk through the marsh for over an hour.” Dana put her hands on her hips.

“First of all, I came in through a hole in the attic. Second, it took my rats three hours to get here, which was after I called you. Deal.” Eulalie pointed at the door. “Are they all through there?”

“Mostly, but there’s some other guy here.” Dana gave Eulalie a quick rundown of what she had seen happen in the lobby, then turned to Tasia. “That guy was coming for her, but ended up taking somebody’s kid instead. He was pissed.”

“The kid is Timotei’s.” Lily jerked her thumb toward the door. “The whole reason that bastard is working for Deacon is to turn his daughter back into a human. But even if he did, she’s a literal monster. No soul, all hunger.”

“And yet, I have zero fucks to give.” Eulalie shook her head. “I’m here for the demon, and I’m not about to let anybody stop me.”

“That’s just it. We don’t want to stop you. But right now, we’re in over our heads, don’t you understand?” Dana put a comforting hand on Eulalie’s knee. “We don’t know enough about this Curator guy.”

“Where is he now?”

Tasia cleared her throat, which got everyone’s attention. “I’m sorry, but back up a moment. You said the demon killed your sister.”

Eulalie wiggled her hand back and forth, palm toward the floor. “Ish. It’s a long story, but that’s the gist of it.”

“Are there more of you?”

Eulalie frowned. “Rude, but fair. No. To my knowledge, I’m the only Arachne walking around on all eights.”

“Have you laid eggs?”

“I haven’t. I don’t have any interest, either. When was your last period?”

Tasia shook her head in astonishment. “Excuse me?”

“Oh, I’m sorry, I thought we were bonding over each other’s sexual activities. My mistake.” The Arachne skittered to one side, her body bouncing up and down like an anxious toddler. “Do you like doggy-style?”

Lily snorted into her hand, turning to hide her face.

“Point taken,” Tasia grumbled.

“Look, I figured you could be cool with this, considering your current status with the Order. From one apex predator to another, there’s no reason we can’t just work together and then fuck off later.” Eulalie crossed her arms and looked at the others. “You said this Curator guy ripped someone in half with his bare hands?”

Tasia nodded. “He did.”

“Okay, then. I would like to counter.” Eulalie moved across the floor without making a sound, then picked up the man who was coated in his own blood. She somehow set her mace down in midair, then picked the man up. When he groaned, she dropped him.

“That one is already dead,” Dana said helpfully, pointing at the man she had stabbed. Eulalie moved toward the body and kicked him a few times before grabbing him by the shoulder and lifting him into the air.

“How about this?” she declared, then made a face and dropped him. “Oh, gross, ew!” The Arachne had blood on her hands, which she frantically wiped off on the man’s pants. 

“You were going to rip him in half, weren’t you?” Lily was leaning against the shelves with a smirk on her face.

“Ugh, in theory, it’s pretty straightforward.” Eulalie gave the man a kick, sending him across the floor like a hockey puck. “I didn’t account for how gross it would be.”

“You’ve never killed someone before?” Tasia was in disbelief.

“Please. I was raised better than that.” Eulalie’s face scrunched up, and her human eyes looked up and to the right. “Um…hmm. I’ve never killed a person, no. But I can rip the head off a deer!”

“You shouldn’t have come.” Lily shook her head. “For so many fucking reasons.”

Eulalie groaned and started to put her face in her hands, but stopped when she realized they were still bloody. “I had to come,” she said. “You two needed my help.”

“And you can help us by getting us out of here.” Dana moved next to Eulalie and hugged the girl’s waist, which caused her to lower her whole body. Lily moved to the other side of the Arachne and hugged her from that side. “You’re not a killer, Lala.”

“That’s the whole reason you sent us,” Lily added. “So that we could be the monsters you needed to get things done.”

“I know, it’s just…” Eulalie made a sputtering sound and her whole body drooped. The zombie and the succubus embraced her and no words were spoken. Tasia watched in awe as they consoled her, realization finally sinking in. Despite the last couple of days, she had once again made assumptions. It was the human part of her that struggled to let it go.

No, that was wrong. There was nothing wrong with the human part of her. It was her training, a lifetime inside the Order. They had been quick to turn on her, and she had almost been equally as quick to do so with Eulalie. She had thought of the Order as her family, but once the line had become blurry, they had been happy to part with her.

Not so with these women. Despite their differences, they were a family. Dana was a human who had become a killer, while Eulalie was a born killer who still seemed innocent.

Naturally, the jury was still out on Lily.

“Hey.” Tasia moved away from the wall and approached the group huddle. “I know there’s a lot going on, but we need to decide right now what happens next. Any moment, someone may come to check on Lily or these men, and then we’re busted. Once the demon knows what’s happening, well…this whole place is going to become a warzone.”

“What’s the matter? You ready to turn tail and run?” Lily smirked at Tasia from her place next to Eulalie.

“No, actually. But it’s clear that this whole thing means something to her.” Tasia gestured at Eulalie, who stiffened up. “If you guys want to commit a little light demon genocide, I’m in. But if you want to bail, that’s cool, too. I assume when you mentioned the attic, you mean you have a portal there?”

Eulalie nodded. “I do,” she said, her features twisted in sadness but free of tears. “It’s how I got in.”

“It sounds like that’s our exit, then.” Tasia crouched down next to the unconscious man on the floor. “And it doesn’t have to be one or the other. Maybe on our way out, we crack a few skulls, just to get the point across. It’s not like you won’t be able to track Deacon again.”

Lily and Dana looked at Eulalie, who looked deep in thought. She stared at Tasia for several moments without a hint of expression, then nodded.

“I think she might be right.” Eulalie rubbed at her nose and then picked up her floating mace. “Coming here really was a bad idea. For all of us.”

Lily crossed her arms and stared down at her feet. “It hasn’t been a picnic, but…” She looked up and shrugged. “It’s not the first time I’ve wasted a trip to the beach.”

“We aren’t at the beach,” replied Eulalie.

“I know. It’s a bunch of bullshit.” Lily nodded in Tasia’s direction. “I assume you’ve taken precautions?”

The Arachne nodded. “I have.” She turned to Tasia. “What that means is that the portal doesn’t take us home. I don’t want you to think we’re planning an 11th hour betrayal or something.”

“I would certainly hope not.” Tasia let out the breath she didn’t know she had been holding. “Well, I guess if that’s settled…are we out of here?”

Eulalie sighed. “I guess, I don’t know. It seems like a shame that we’ve come all this way.”

“Yeah, well…” Lily patted Eulalie on her spider butt. “You’ll get them next time, champ.”

“That’s obnoxious.” Eulalie swatted Lily’s hand away. “But yeah, you’re right. I’ll think of something. Besides, there’s always the backup plan.”

“Since that’s settled, I guess—” Dana was interrupted by the sound of rattling metal and the sliding door was opened from the other side. Tasia watched in awe as Eulalie leapt straight into the air, flipping over to grab onto the rafters up above, then turned her attention to the door. On the other side was a pair of men, their weapons drawn. Behind them was an elderly woman and four more armed men.

“Well, well, well.” Legion stepped aside as the men filed into the room and formed a semi-circle around Tasia, Lily, and Dana. “This is absolutely not what I expected.”

Tasia raised her hands in surrender, along with Dana and Lily. The succubus looked more annoyed than anything, but Dana stared hard at the demon, her upper lip twitching.

“You three have caused quite enough trouble for me today. Take them to the chapel, but maintain your distance. The redhead and the brunette are both dangerous at close range, and I have no idea what the deal is with the blonde.” Legion frowned at Dana. “I’d say we should put a bullet in you, but I suspect it might not work.”

Dana shrugged. “Wouldn’t be the first time someone has tried today.”

They were herded into a small circle and forced to walk through the kitchen. They came close enough to the counter that Tasia grabbed a pair of sandwiches that had been wrapped in plastic.

“Hey,” grunted the man right behind her, but he didn’t dare move any closer.

“Fuck you, I’m hungry,” she muttered, then unwrapped the first sandwich and tore into it. Her bottomless pit of a stomach no longer cared that she was in mortal peril, and she figured a snack wouldn’t hurt. As they walked back into the long hallway outside of the kitchen, she made sure to keep her eyes on the floor for fear of looking back to see if Eulalie was following them.

“So much for our escape plan,” muttered Lily. “You two came all the way here just to get me captured again. Bravo.” Though animosity dripped from her voice, Tasia recognized it as an act immediately.

Dana said nothing, her pupils unnaturally wide as she stared straight ahead but not really seeing anything. Lily elbowed the blonde, but didn’t get a reaction from her.

By the time they made it to the chapel, it was packed full of Legion’s minions. Up by the front door, Deacon was wringing his hands as he gazed over at the entourage.

“Is it really her?” he asked, taking a few steps toward them.

“Of course it is, you fool.” Legion shook his head with a groan. “I’m trying to contact the Curator right now to arrange a swap. That will keep Timotei from ripping your head off.”

Deacon let out a sigh of relief, and Tasia noticed there were red marks around the man’s neck. There was also a bruise forming along his jawline. The air stank of fear and sweat, and it was primarily centered on the preacher.

“Finally, some good news.” He pulled a rag from his pocket and mopped his brow. “I can’t wait for this to be over.”

“That’s what she said!” shouted Lily. “Your wife, every time you fucked her!”

Deacon’s gaze hardened and he lifted a finger in Lily’s direction. Before he could speak, his own daughter stepped from behind him and took him by the hand, shaking her head.

“You’re right,” he mumbled, then allowed his daughter to lead him away. The parishioners closed ranks, filling the pews as the women were led up onto the stage. An additional team of armed men came in through the side doors, forming a ring around them.

“We aren’t taking our eyes off of you,” muttered the Legion nearest to them. “If any of them moves, shoot. The werewolf is worth more alive than dead, but I’m not taking any chances.”

The men guarding them said nothing, but Tasia noticed that a few flipped their safeties off and fingers promptly went on the triggers. At the first sign of anything, they would shoot.

“Now this is a predicament. What sort of zany trick are we gonna pull this time?” Lily’s tone was lighthearted, but she threw a look over at Dana. She was still staring straight ahead, her mind clearly somewhere else. The succubus turned her attention back to Legion. “Speaking of fun, what’s the deal with your pet vampire? I’m sorry, vampyr. You all on the outs?”

Legion ignored her, but Lily continued. After several minutes, one of the men looked at Legion and gestured at the succubus with his gun.

“Do you want me to shoot her?” he asked.

“No. She’d only appreciate the attention.” The demon got an odd look on their face and Tasia watched as several members of the congregation pulled out their cellphones. A sullen murmur went through the crowd before Legion looked back at the mercenary. “Do we still have someone at the end of the road?”

“We do.”

“Would you have someone tell them to stop the vehicle leaving our premises and inform the driver immediately of our situation.”

The man grabbed the microphone clipped to his shoulder and pressed the button. “Gateway, this is Frontline, do you copy?”

There was no response, only static. The man repeated himself, then clicked the button a couple more times before looking at Legion. “We’re being jammed.”

“Jammed? How?” Legion sniffed the air, then spun around in a circle as if chasing a scent. “Interference. Is it magic? Which one of you is doing this?” The demon noticed the faraway look in Dana’s eyes and stepped toward her. “Is it you? What sort of witchcraft is this?”

“I would like to point out that she isn’t a witch,” Tasia muttered as Legion got in Dana’s face.

“Hey! Stop that!” Legion slapped Dana twice, then grabbed her by the collar of her shirt. “You think a simple spell will just—”

Dana moved fast, her distant gaze locking on Legion’s features as she grabbed the demon by the wrist. She pulled Legion’s hand off her shirt, causing the fabric to tear, then promptly bit off a pair of the demon’s fingers.

“Aagh!” Legion stumbled backward, staring in shock at the bloody stumps on her hand. Dana’s head twitched from side to side as she chewed on Legion’s digits before swallowing them. Her bloody lips parted and she let out a gasp of pleasure as her vision settled on the congregation. 

The mercenaries had their guns raised, ready to follow orders, but the demon surprised everyone by laughing.

“Was that it?” She looked at Lily and held up her damaged hand. “Was this your zany escape attempt? Do you think I care about losing a few fingers? Ha!”

Lily’s eyes went wide in shock, but it only lasted a moment. A massive grin blossomed on the succubus’ face. Legion noticed this and paused.

“What’s so funny?” they asked.

“It’s the kind of joke that takes a minute to sink in.” Lily cast a look in Tasia’s direction. “You probably won’t think it’s very funny, though.”

“Oh, I definitely won’t think it’s funny.” Tasia scanned the room, taking in the location of the armed men. By her side, Dana was twitching with a silly grin on her face. “But I’m hoping at least a few of them get the joke.”

Legion, sensing that something was up, took a step back, followed by another. An odd look crossed the demon’s face and they let out a cough. “Have one of your men run down the road until they can contact the gate,” they rasped.

“Roger.” The man with the radio backed away from the group, then got off the stage and headed for the double doors. Once he was gone, Legion started pacing, their eyelids starting to droop. The demon stumbled, and was quickly joined by a couple of her brethren.

“What…what have you done to me?” The infected demon cast a baleful eye in Dana’s direction. The zombie had stopped twitching and was now looking at Legion in horror.

“Oh, fuck,” she muttered, then wiped the blood off her lips.

“Well, kiddies, I think we’re about to learn something very important today.” Lily laughed as Legion fell on the ground and started twitching. One of the nearby mercenaries knelt down and tried to help the other Legions. “Class is in session, and the first lesson is that we should keep our hands to ourselves.”

“Shut up!” shouted a nearby mercenary, unable to tear his eyes away from the Legion writhing on the floor. “Just shut the fuck up.”

“Lesson number two.” Tasia grinned in anticipation as the wolf hovered just beneath the surface, ready for the right moment to be unleashed. “No hitting.”

“Ooh, we’re vibing.” Lily grinned at Dana. “C’mon, keep the chain going.”

Dana shook her head. “It’s not funny,” she muttered. “You don’t understand, I…it’s not…” Her hand wandered to where she kept her knife. “We have to stop this.”

The dying Legion let out a gurgle and went still, foam pouring out of their mouth. The nearest Legion rose and stared at Dana in anger.

“What did you do?” they demanded, snapping their fingers to get her attention. On the ground, the dead Legion twitched and let out a final breath that rattled like a snake. “That was a perfectly healthy vessel!”

“I really hope this isn’t about to be anti-climactic,” muttered Lily under her breath. As if on cue, the dead Legion’s eyes snapped open. It looked to the mercenary that had helped it, then threw itself on the man, biting him on the neck. The nearest Legion tried to pull it off, but was also bitten in the process.

“You spoke too soon,” Tasia replied as the mercenaries opened fire on the zombie. The first shots caused the zombie to fall off the stage into the front row where it was promptly subdued by the Legions waiting below. The man who was bitten was already staggering toward his comrades, crying out in pain.

A ripple of discontent went through the congregation as they gathered together, confused about why the zombie kept moving despite its broken body. The infected mercenary had a far off look in his eyes as they clouded over, then turned to focus on the living creature nearest to him.

“Any second now.” Lily was now bouncing on the balls of her feet, a massive grin appearing on her face.

“You really are an agent of chaos, aren’t you?” Tasia couldn’t help but grin as the situation spiraled rapidly out of control.

“Oh, sweetie, you have no idea.”

“We need to stop this.” Dana unfolded her sword, and the mercenaries closest to her opened fire. She took several rounds before falling to her knees. For just a moment, she looked like a woman kneeling in reverence beneath the cross above the dais. The rumbling growl that came from her just moments later revealed a darker truth.

The tension in the room built as another Legion died and turned. The mercenaries were uncertain who to watch, and were further stunned when the injured one threw himself in a blind rage at his comrades.

With the attention off of them, Lily threw her shoulders back and manifested a majestic pair of horns that burned with hellfire, her tail whipping behind her as wings sprouted from her shoulders. Tasia let out a howl, her body expanding and destroying the dress she wore as her bones rearranged themselves and muscles swelled up. The men closest to them turned and backed away, one of them falling off stage and into the melee of demon vs zombie.

Dana rose to her feet, her blonde hair fading to a dull silver as she raised her sword and let out a hiss like a cat. The remaining mercenaries raised their weapons to open fire, but a dark mass smashed into them from up above, spiraling through the air as it knocked three of them off their feet. The mace hovered briefly over the congregation as Eulalie herself dropped from above, black liquid oozing from her skin and solidifying into a chitinous shell. Her humanoid features were buried behind grisly body armor as she held out her hand and the mace returned.

“Player four has entered the game,” she loudly declared as the downed mercenaries screamed in terror. “Roll for initiative, bitches!”