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Sketches In Black Ink Copyright Shana Rae This book was written in 2010 This book is purely the

e work of Shana Rae who is to be identified as the author. This book is the work of fiction. All character na!es and e"ents are fictitious. Rese!blance to any persons li"ing or dead is coincidental. #ncidents or na!ed places in this book are used fictitiously. All rights reser"ed. $o part of this book !ay be reproduced by any !echanical photographic or electronic process or in the for! of phonographic recording% nor !ay it be stored in a retrie"al syste! trans!itted or otherwise be copied for public or pri"ate use other than for &fair use& as brief 'uotations e!bodied in articles and re"iews without prior written per!ission of the Author.

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(a!ie sat on the edge of his bed and looked around the dingy bedsit that he called ho!e. )e*d co!e to the city full of hopes drea!s and aspirations but it had all turned into a dark night!are of despair. +ooking at the pile of sketchbooks on the table (a!ie had all but lost the inspiration to draw his co!ics. ,nce his artwork had been so ali"e and "ibrant now e"erything he drew was done in black ink dark sinister worlds inhabited by creatures that haunted his drea!s. -ulling on an old .u!per (a!ie got ready to go to the caf/ downstairs. That was how he*d found the bedsit (a!ie had seen a notice in the caf/ window for a general assistant in the kitchen. The owner 0eorge had taken pity on (a!ie and agreed to let hi! li"e in the bedsit upstairs. (a!ie got paid a pittance for working in the kitchen but at least his bedsit was rent free. +ea"ing his bedsit (a!ie ran down the stairs and out through the door into the yard behind the caf/. 1sually he went in through the back entrance but it was locked so he

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walked down the alleyway at the side to the front entrance. As he walked into the caf/ (a!ie found 0eorge sat at one of the tables reading the daily paper. 3The back entrance wasn*t open45 0eorge looked up. 3#*! selling up (a!ie5 (a!ie looked at 0eorge in horror 3$o4why65 3This place has ne"er !ade that !uch !oney #*! getting near retire!ent age and #*"e been !ade a generous offer enough to let !e retire to the seaside can*t refuse an offer like that5 3And what about !e where a! # going to li"e65 3The new owner has agreed to let you stay # told her you were a good honest worker so you*ll still ha"e a .ob and so!ewhere to li"e5 3Thanks 0eorge !uch appreciated. So who is the new owner65 3#sabella 7on )agen5 (a!ie laughed. 3$o disrespect but she sounds a bit too posh to buy a caf/ like this5 3That*s what # thought but her co!pany are planning to buy a lot of the property around here pri!e de"elop!ent area apparently5 3So she*ll probably rede"elop this place and then # will be out of a .ob and ho!eless great5 3$o she actually see!ed 'uite keen to !ake this place
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work though it will probably be a bit !ore up !arket than it is now5 3So are we opening up today65 3,f course (oe*s already in the kitchen and +i9 will be here shortly she rang to say she*d o"erslept #*! not sure whether the new owner will be keeping her on5 3# hope she does #*d !iss ha"ing +i9 around so she !ight not be that great at ti!e keeping but she brings this place ali"e45 The door opened (a!ie turned round as +i9 rushed into the caf/. 3Sorry 0eorge4!orning (a!ie45 +i9 dashed through to the back taking off her coat as she went. She 'uickly returned wearing her apron and looked around. 3:uiet in here this !orning5 (a!ie s!iled at +i9. 3They were all waiting for you5 +i9 put her hand on his cheek. 3;ou say the nicest things (a!ie are we still going out for a drink tonight65 3The usual <riday night special one pint two straws65 +i9 giggled. 30ets !e drunk 'uicker=5 0eorge folded his paper and walked o"er to the counter. 3#f you two ha"e finished with the sweet talk45 (a!ie turned round. 3,> #*! on !y way5

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(a!ie walked through to the kitchen he saw that the back door was now open and (oe was standing outside ha"ing a cigarette he went to .oin hi!. 30eorge has .ust told !e about the new owner45 (oe growled. 3;eah sounds a right posh bitch she won*t want !e working here that*s for sure5 3Co!e on (oe who else can cook steak and kidney pie like you do65 3There won*t be stuff like that on the !enu it*ll be bloody 'uiche and salad not real food5 (a!ie didn*t ha"e the heart to tell (oe that he actually preferred 'uiche to his pies. 3Are you two cooking breakfast this !orning65 (a!ie looked round and saw +i9 standing with her ar!s on her hips. 3?e*re on our way +i95 As (a!ie walked back into the kitchen (oe stubbed his cigarette out and swore under his breath .ust for the effect. +ea"ing (oe to start cooking (a!ie went o"er to +i9 to see what the orders were for. 3So what delights would !ada! like cooking today65 +i9 s!iled. 3#*! gonna !iss you (a!ie5 3Are you planning on going so!ewhere65 3?ell when 0eorge sells up # doubt the new owner will want !e to stay #*! not e@actly the !ost reliable e!ployee a! #65
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3But you*re still !y friend +i9 and e"en if the new owner doesn*t appreciate you # do and # hope you*ll still co!e and "isit !e5 +i9 ga"e (a!ie a peck on the cheek. 3#*d like that4now breakfast4the usual for the groper and a full Cnglish5 (a!ie laughed. 3So the groper*s in for his usual is he45 3Sli!y toad bloody hands all o"er the place one of these days #*ll put a !ouse trap on the botto! of !y skirt he won*t be groping after that=5 +i9 turned and went back to the caf/ as (a!ie went to help (oe with the breakfasts.

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At lunchti!e 0eorge wandered into the kitchen. 3(a!ie45 3;es65 3Diss 7on )agen is here she*d like to take a look around upstairs45 3,>4(oe can you !anage without !e for a while65 3Sure5 (a!ie followed 0eorge back into the caf/ he saw Diss 7on )agen stood by the counter. She was wearing a black skirt and .acket and heels that could be used as lethal weapons. )er sleek black hair was tied back the sight sent chills down (a!ie*s spine. 3Diss 7on )agen this is (a!ie >eirnan5 (a!ie held out his hand. 3-leased to !eet you5 3Call !e #sabella45 She briefly shook (a!ie*s hand. 3#f you*ll co!e with !e #*ll show you upstairs5 (a!ie felt awkward in #sabella*s presence and as she

followed hi! out of the caf/ (a!ie cast a 'uick glance at +i9 as if pleading for help she grinned at hi!. As they went down the alleyway at the side of the caf/ #sabella put her hand on (a!ie*s shoulder which !ade hi! .u!p. 3#s this the only access65 3?ell you can go through the kitchen4# thought this !ight be safer45 (a!ie opened the door that led up to his bedsit and ran up the stairs waiting at the top for #sabella to .oin hi!. ?alking into his bedsit (a!ie !o"ed to one side to let #sabella ha"e a look around. 3This is where you li"e65 3;eah guess it*s not the kind of thing you*re used to but it*s ho!e5 3;ou ha"e .ust the one roo!65 3The bathroo! is .ust down the hall and the roo! ne@t door is used for storage for the caf/5 3# see so it is possible to con"ert all this into 'uite a pleasant flat65 3-ossibly though # wouldn*t be able to afford the rent then=5 (a!ie laughed trying to ease the tension he was feeling. #sabella walked o"er to the table and picked up one of (a!ie*s sketchbooks. 3Are these yours65 3;es # like to write co!ics45 3Day # take a look65

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3,f course5 (a!ie stood ner"ously watching as #sabella leafed through the sketchbooks. 3# presu!e these are your !ost recent ones65 #sabella pointed to the black ink sketches. 3;es5 3Dore representati"e of your !ood65 (a!ie nodded. 3# think you*"e got genuine talent #*d like to see !ore of this kind of work it has a certain haunting 'uality to it5 3# don*t often draw these days can*t find the inspiration that*s why # started using black ink5 #sabella turned to face (a!ie and put her hand on his chest. 3# will be your inspiration5 (a!ie slowly backed away #sabella laughed. 3(a!ie what # !eant to say is we*ll con"ert upstairs into a nice flat for you there will be no increase in rent and all # ask in return is that you do so!e sketches for !e. #sn*t that a fair deal65 3?ell # don*t pay any rent at the !o!ent that*s why # work in the kitchen45 3Then you shall ha"e the flat rent free and in e@change you will do so!e drawings for !e4agreed65 3?ill you still want !e to work in the kitchen65 3$o once # take this place o"er there won*t be a kitchen to work in4we will .ust be offering a selection of cold food4 and refresh!ents45 3So you*ll be getting rid of (oe65
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3;es4but you prefer 'uiche to his pies don*t you65 #sabella*s insight !ade (a!ie gasp. 3)ow did you know45 S!iling knowingly #sabella put her hand on (a!ie*s face. 3# !ake it !y business to know5 3# see well #*d better get back to work4when will you be taking the caf/ o"er65 3This weekend5 3So soon65 3;es so this will be your last day of work in the kitchen5 3And what a! # supposed to do for an inco!e65 #sabella opened her hand bag and took out a roll of notes and ga"e the! to (a!ie who guessed it was around eight hundred pounds. 3;ou*ll recei"e this a!ount e"ery !onth in return apart fro! drawing for !e # will ask the occasional fa"our5 3?hat sort of fa"ours65 3# ha"e a large house in the country where # entertain at the weekends #*d like you to dri"e !e there and welco!e !y guests as they arri"e. # presu!e you do ha"e a dri"ing licence65 3;es # do45 3Eon*t be so apprehensi"e (a!ie you know you deser"e better than the life you ha"e at the !o!ent. ;ou ca!e to the city with hopes and drea!s didn*t you65 3?ell yes45 3Then now is the ti!e to li"e your drea!s5 3This !ay see! like a stupid 'uestion but why !e65

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3Because of what you can draw (a!ie. $ow # !ust be going and no doubt (oe is swearing in the kitchen trying to cope on his own45 #sabella went to lea"e then turned round. 3,h one !ore thing as the caf/ will be closing this e"ening #*ll send a car to pick you up and take you to Thornwell 0range. ;ou*ll be staying there for a week #*"e got no parties planned for a while so take ti!e to fa!iliarise yourself with the house and grounds. And don*t forget to take your sketchbook5 3# presu!e you*ll be con"erting this into a flat while #*! away65 3;es4and #*! sorry you won*t be able to go out with +i9 tonight #*! sure she*ll understand5 Before (a!ie could 'uestion #sabella as to how she knew she disappeared downstairs. )e 'uickly ran after her but as he turned into the alleyway there was no trace of #sabella.

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Returning to the caf/ (a!ie looked around +i9 walked o"er to hi!. 3So!ething wrong65 3#sabella she disappeared so 'uickly45 3,n first na!e ter!s already65 3#t*s not like that +i94co!e with !e # need to talk to 0eorge5 +i9 followed (a!ie o"er to the counter. 30eorge #sabella has .ust told !e she*s closing the caf/ tonight5 3;es # know5 3And when were you planning to tell us65 3At the end of your shift #sabella has gi"en !e a large su! of !oney to gi"e to all of you4though # belie"e she has already gi"en you yours (a!ie65 3;es she has and +i9 #*! sorry but tonight is cancelled !y new boss is !o"ing !e out for a week while upstairs is con"erted into a flat5 3Ea!n she !o"es 'uickly doesn*t she4so where are you

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going to be li"ing65 3?ell that is what is so weird. #sabella has said # can li"e in the flat rent free as well as getting paid !onthly and all she wants in return is for !e to do so!e drawings for her and to dri"e her to Thornwell 0range at weekends45 3She wants you as her se@ sla"e=5 +i9 guffawed. 3#t*s not like that +i945 3;ou*"e ne"er heard of Thornwell 0range ha"e you65 3$o why65 3?ell the ru!ours are that they ha"e wild orgies there and if you ask !e #sabella looks like the kind of person who*d indulge in such practices5 (a!ie looked away e!barrassed. 3,h4# didn*t realise4and #*"e agreed to #sabella*s proposal in fact that*s where #*! going tonight45 3;ou*re going to an orgy6=5 3+i9 please45 3#*! sorry (a!ie !aybe they .ust want you to watch=5 (a!ie turned and walked away into the kitchen. 3;ou*"e upset hi! now +i9 there was no need for that45 3# was only ha"ing fun 0eorge #*d better go and apologise5 3;es you*d better you know how fond he is of you5 3#*d noticed5 +i9 went through to the kitchen. 3(a!ie45 )e looked up at +i9 but carried on working she went and
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grabbed hold of his ar!. 3(a!ie #*! truly sorry about what # said45 3Thank you +i9 but it*s not .ust what you said it*s what # !ight ha"e got !yself into that worries !e5 3They are only ru!ours (a!ie #sabella probably .ust has genteel parties the kind where e"eryone holds their pinkies up as they sip tea on the lawn while eating cucu!ber sandwiches5 (a!ie laughed. 3Dakes you wonder why they want a scruffy oik like !e there doesn*t it65 3?ell # don*t want up upset you but yes5 3-ro!ise !e one thing +i9 when # co!e back in a week you*ll let !e take you out for dinner65 3That*s an easy pro!ise to !ake and keep (a!ie5 +i9 kissed hi! on the cheek. 3$ow #*d better get back to work4did #sabella say if she*d be keeping !e on65 3$o but #*ll do !y best to persuade her5 3Thanks (a!ie5 As +i9 left the kitchen (oe grunted. 3)a"e # !issed so!ething e@citing65 3$ot really (oe has 0eorge told you the news65 3About the caf/ closing tonight yes5 3?hat are you going to do65 30et blind drunk5 3# !eant about finding another .ob65 30ot a !ate who runs a transport caf/ his !issus has

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another kid on the way needs a hand so #*! gonna work with hi!. ?hat are you going to be doing65 3Eon*t ask5 3# .ust did45 3#*! going to be working for #sabella5 3Eoing what65 3Erawings chauffeuring and welco!ing guests5 3?hat does she want you to do drawings for65 3#*"e no idea (oe can we .ust lea"e it at that5 3Chauffeuring65 3(oe #*! not going to talk about it any!ore let*s .ust get on with our works shall we65 3,> # was .ust curious45 (a!ie turned his back on (oe before he could ask hi! any!ore 'uestions and carried on working. ?hen the caf/ had closed for the day 0eorge gathered e"eryone around. 3# don*t like goodbyes so #*ll .ust wish you all good luck for your futures and thank you for all the work you*"e done for !e o"er the years5 Then he shook e"erybody*s hand. (oe turned to lea"e. 3# don*t like goodbye*s either so #*ll .ust go as if it*s any other <riday night5 0eorge +i9 and (a!ie watched hi! go. 3#t*s really strange because you*re all lea"ing but #*ll be staying here. Though #*! going to see if # can*t get #sabella to
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e!ploy you again +i95 3Thanks (a!ie and whate"er happens #*ll see you when you get back fro! your .aunt in the country5 +i9 kissed (a!ie on the cheek before she left the caf/. 3?ell #*d better let you lock up for the last ti!e 0eorge en.oy your retire!ent5 3# will (a!ie and take care of yourself5 3#*ll do !y best5 (a!ie shook hands with 0eorge before he turned and left the caf/. ?hen (a!ie got to his bedsit he 'uickly packed so!e clothes his sketchbook and art !aterials. )earing a horn toot outside he looked out of the window and saw a car waiting. The dri"er got out of the car and looked up at (a!ie who wa"ed to say he was on his way. (a!ie ran down the stairs and !ade sure the door was locked securely before heading down the alleyway. The dri"er opened the boot of the car. 3(a!ie4#*! Scott are you ready for your big ad"enture65 3$ot sure about ready45 3#sabella said you*d be a bit apprehensi"e you*ll be fine when you get to the grange5 ,nce (a!ie had got into the car Scott slowly dro"e away fro! the caf/. (a!ie looked back and wondered how different things would be when he returned.

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Arri"ing at the grange (a!ie was relie"ed it wasn*t as big a place as he*d i!agined but the house and the grounds were still seriously i!pressi"e. )e got out of the car picked up his suitcase out of the boot and followed Scott inside. #n the hall he found a !iddleFaged !an stood waiting he re!inded (a!ie of the archetypal butler. 3(a!ie this is Albert he !akes sure that e"erything runs like clockwork been in ser"ice to the 7on )agen fa!ily for o"er thirty years now45 3#t*s a pleasure to !eet you Albert5 Albert barely nodded his head. Scott looked around. 3?here*s -hoebe65 (a!ie looked up the stairs as a young wo!an ca!e running down towards the! dressed in a !aids outfit (a!ie didn*t ha"e to guess what her .ob was. 3Sorry sir # was .ust preparing the bedroo!5 3;ou*"e had all afternoon to do that4well now it*s ready take (a!ie to his roo!5

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-hoebe stood in front of Scott looking down at the floor. 3;es sir5 She turned to (a!ie. 3#f you*d like to co!e this way please45 (a!ie picked up his suitcase as he went to follow -hoebe upstairs Scott put his hand on his ar!. 3#f you*re hungry -hoebe will show where the kitchen is we*re "ery infor!al when #sabella isn*t in residence5 3Thank you5 (a!ie headed up the stairs and followed -hoebe down the landing she stopped outside a door and waited for (a!ie to go inside. -utting his suitcase on the bed (a!ie sat down and took a deep breath. 3?ow this !akes a change fro! !y bedsit5 )e looked up at -hoebe who s!iled at hi!. 3?ould you like !e to get you so!ething to eat65 3$ot at the !o!ent working in the kitchen !eans #*"e been snacking all day. ?hile it*s still daylight would you be allowed to show !e around the gardens65 3,f course5 3# ne"er asked what Scott*s .ob is here45 3)e*s the estate !anager5 3Eoes he prefers to be called sir65 3By !e yes he doesn*t belie"e in too !uch fa!iliarity5 (a!ie noticed that -hoebe was blushing so decided not to ask any !ore 'uestions. 3To the garden then45

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+ea"ing the house -hoebe took (a!ie down a path that led towards a large lake. 3Eoes anyone else work in the house besides you and Albert65 3$o apart fro! Christian who does the gardening. ?hen #sabella has her parties she has special caterers that co!e in to prepare the food and pro"ide the waitresses5 3#sabella has asked !e to dri"e her up here and attend the parties though not as a guest #*! not sure what to e@pect5 -hoebe stopped and turned to face (a!ie. 3?e do not speak about the parties they are "ery pri"ate affairs45 3#*! sorry # didn*t realise # .ust didn*t want to !ake a fool of !yself4#*! not used to all this5 3Eon*t worry (a!ie #sabella won*t ask you to do so!ething she doesn*t think you*re capable of5 3?ell that*s reassuring now #*"e .ust got to con"ince !yself of !y own capabilities5 3?hat do you do for a li"ing (a!ie # know you !entioned working in a kitchen is that in the caf/ that #sabella has bought65 3;es #*! a struggling artist who went to the city in the hope of finding fa!e instead # found a dingy caf/ and a bedsit. # worked in the kitchen as a general assistant and got the bedsit rent free. ;ou can understand why #*! finding this a little o"erwhel!ing5 3#ndeed what kind of things do you draw65 3Co!ics !ainly5
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3#*d like to see your work if you don*t !ind5 3# don*t !ind #sabella see!ed surprisingly i!pressed with !y work5 3,h4in that case #*d better not5 3?hy65 3Eid #sabella ask you to do so!e drawings for her65 3;es she did45 3Then it is a pri"ate !atter between the two of you and it would be wrong of !e to see your work5 3#*! not sure # understand45 3+et*s .ust say that there are so!e things that #sabella prefers to keep to herself5 3,> #*! sure it will all !ake sense at so!e point5 -hoebe walked o"er to a bench by the side of the lake and sat down (a!ie went o"er to .oin her. 3This is a good place to watch the sunset5 (a!ie looked out across the lake in the distance the sun was slowly disappearing below the hori9on. 3Beautiful4al!ost inspires !e to do so!e painting45 3;ou paint as well65 3#*"e got an art degree so there*s !any aspects of art work # can do5 3And you end up working in a caf/ that is such a sha!e5 3#*! not the first artist to suffer for !y art5 (a!ie sighed and got to his feet. 3And talking of art #*! now feeling inspired to do so!e sketches45 3?ould you like !e to bring you a drink up65

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3#t*s ,> #*ll pick up so!e water fro! the kitchen5 3(a!ie # a! the general !aid !y duty is to ser"e45 3?ell # guess #*! too independent besides # need to know where the kitchen is in case # feel the urge for a !idnight snack5 3Alright co!e with !e5 (a!ie followed -hoebe back to the house.

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As -hoebe and (a!ie walked into the kitchen Alfred was sat at the kitchen table eating his dinner he glanced at (a!ie and carried on eating. -hoebe took a bottle of water out of the fridge and handed it to (a!ie. 3Thanks don*t bother about a glass # usually end up knocking it o"er. #*ll see you in the !orning -hoebe thanks for the walk5 (a!ie s!iled at -hoebe as he left the kitchen and headed upstairs. ?hen he got to his roo! he unpacked his art !aterials on to the s!all desk in the corner of the roo!. )e took a 'uick swig fro! the bottle of water then opened his sketchbook. Eespite his surroundings (a!ie still felt co!pelled to draw in black ink. )e sketched a few lines then frantically added a few !ore then so!e details. <illing in so!e areas with the ink a picture started to e!erge. #t was al!ost as though (a!ie wasn*t aware of what he was doing it felt like the sketch was possessing hi!. ?ith a final flourish (a!ie co!plete the sketch and leaning

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back in his chair looked at the picture in front of hi!. #t was un!istakably a de!on and appeared to be eating so!ething. At its feet were a pile of body parts (a!ie shuddered and looked away in disgust. )e couldn*t understand where the darkness he kept drawing was co!ing fro!. 0lancing at his watch (a!ie was surprised that two hours had passed. $ot feeling inclined to do any !ore sketches (a!ie decided to ha"e an early night. ,nce he*d got undressed (a!ie went through to the bathroo! and had a 'uick shower. As (a!ie ca!e out of the bathroo! there was a knock on the door wrapping his towel around his waist (a!ie opened the door to find -hoebe standing there. She walked into the bedroo! without saying a word. 3-hoebe4# was .ust going to bed45 3That*s why #*! here5 -hoebe started to take her unifor! off (a!ie grabbed hold of her ar!. 3$o wait4what are you doing65 3# was told to !ake you feel co!fortable5 3-hoebe no disrespect but #*! fine thank you5 3(a!ie4# ha"e !y orders5 3;ou*"e been ordered to sleep with !e65 -hoebe nodded. 3By who!65 3#sabella4though # would willingly sleep with you without any orders5 (a!ie re!e!bered what +i9 had said to hi! about the
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orgies that were ru!oured to take place at the grange he began to wonder if it was true. 3-hoebe #*ll speak to #sabella and tell her # declined her offer that way you won*t get into trouble5 3;ou don*t understand (a!ie #sabella will take it as a personal insult # told you before # a! here to ser"e5 3?hat the hell is going on here -hoebe65 3Are you angry with !e65 3$o of course not # .ust don*t understand how #sabella can order you to sleep with !e as if neither of us ha"e a choice5 3-lease accept that is the way things are here (a!ie you*ll find it !uch easier if you do5 3The parties that #sabella holds4they are orgies aren*t they65 3$ot e@actly please don*t force !e to say any!ore. # lo"e working here and # don*t want to lose !y .ob45 3,> you can sleep with !e4but that is as far as it goes4 sleep4understood65 3Thank you5 -hoebe finished getting undressed (a!ie still in shock turned away until she was in bed. Then throwing his towel on the chair cli!bed into bed !aking sure he stayed as far away fro! -hoebe as he could without falling onto the floor. 3(a!ie45 )e reluctantly rolled o"er to face -hoebe. 3?hat65 -hoebe ran her fingers down (a!ie*s chest. 3# said no -hoebe5

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#gnoring (a!ie -hoebe !o"ed closer and started to kiss his chest then his sto!ach. (a!ie threw back the co"ers and got out of bed. 3?hat part of no didn*t you understand65 (a!ie picked up his robe. 3#*ll sleep in the chair5 -hoebe sat up in bed. 3?hat the hell is wrong with you (a!ie65 3There is nothing wrong with !e # .ust don*t go around screwing wo!en #*"e .ust !et. Call !e oldFfashioned if you like but # belie"e in respect5 3;ou selfFrighteous bastard5 (a!ie stared at -hoebe in shock. 3;ou arrogant selfFcentred prick5 Eespite doing his best to keep cal! (a!ie could feel a rage building up deep inside a rage that was gi"ing hi! the biggest erection he*d e"er had. 3The truth is you probably don*t know how to fuck do you65 (a!ie snapped he cli!bed onto the bed and pushed -hoebe backwards. <orcing her legs apart (a!ie lifted -hoebe*s hips and ra!!ed his erection in so deep and hard that -hoebe cried out in pain. 3;ou bitch #*ll show you what a good fuck is5 -ounding harder and harder (a!ie didn*t hold back. ?ith one last thrust he threw back his head as he orgas!ed -hoebe screa!ed as she cli!a@ed. (a!ie stayed there for a !o!ent lost in ecstasy then he let -hoebe go rolled o"er and lay
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down on the bed in a state of total e@haustion. -hoebe leaned o"er and kissed hi!. 3Sweet drea!s (a!ie5 As he fell asleep -hoebe got out of bed and got dressed turning round to !ake sure (a!ie was asleep before lea"ing the roo!. ,n the landing Scott was waiting for her. 3Eid it work65 3;es but not the soft and gentle approach it needed aggression to break hi!5 Scott took -hoebe in his ar!s. 3?ell done #sabella will be "ery pleased5 3#*! only here to ser"e5 3#ndeed you are -hoebe5

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?hen (a!ie woke up the ne@t !orning it took hi! a !o!ent to realise where he was. Then he re!e!bered what had happened the night before he rolled o"er onto his back and groaned what the hell had possessed hi!. )e wondered when -hoebe had left and if she*d still be speaking to hi!. 0etting out of bed (a!ie went to take ha"e a 'uick shower before getting dressed. Then lea"ing his roo! he headed down to the kitchen which was deserted. )e !ade hi!self a cup of coffee and sat down at the table. 3Dorning (a!ie5 )e looked up as -hoebe ca!e into the roo!. 3-hoebe4about last night45 She put her hand on his shoulder. 3;ou were !agnificent5 3;ou*re not angry with !e65 -hoebe sat down on (a!ie*s lap and put her ar!s around his neck. 3,f course not you were like a wild ani!al it was a!a9ing5

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(a!ie felt distinctly unco!fortable. 3#*! not usually like that -hoebe45 3So you didn*t en.oy it65 3# didn*t say that it was .ust45 3(a!ie .ust en.oy it for what it was45 -hoebe leaned forward and whispered in his ear. 3A good hard fuck5 Then she .u!ped off (a!ie*s lap and went to !ake herself a coffee. 3So what are you planning to do today (a!ie65 3# was thinking about taking !y sketchbook outside for a change see if # can draw so!ething nicer than # did last night5 (a!ie got to his feet and left the kitchen before -hoebe could say anything. A few !o!ents later Scott walked into the kitchen -hoebe looked round. 3Coffee65 3;es ha"e you seen (a!ie this !orning65 3)e*s .ust had a coffee and gone out to do so!e sketching5 -hoebe handed Scott his drink. 3#*"e .ust spoken to #sabella she is "ery pleased with you you*ll be getting a bonus5 Scott grabbed hold of -hoebe*s backside she s'uealed e@citedly. 3?hat do you want !e to do with (a!ie now he*s still got a lot of inner conflict5

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3Take it steady -hoebe re!e!ber how long it took you when you first arri"ed at the grange5 3,h yes # was the picture of innocence wasn*t #65 3;ou were and breaking you was the !ost pleasurable e@perience #*"e e"er had. 0et hi! to talk about what he*s feeling see if you can draw the innocence out of hi!5 3;es sir it will be a pleasure5

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After picking up his sketchbook and pencils (a!ie had gone down to the lake. )e*d found a 'uiet spot near a fallen trunk and was sat on the grass leaning back against a tree. ,pening his sketchbook (a!ie looked around for inspiration but in his !ind all he could see was the de!on he*d drawn the night before. (a!ie closed his eyes and breathed in deeply. 3(a!ie45 )e looked up to see -hoebe holding a bottle of water. 3Bought you this45 She handed the bottle o"er to hi!. 3Thanks -hoebe sa"es !e going back to the kitchen when # get thirsty5 3#s so!ething bothering you (a!ie65 3$o no #*! fine .ust seeking inspiration45 3?ell if you want to talk45 3Sit down -hoebe5 She sat down facing (a!ie. 3?hat happened last night disturbs !e #*! e!barrassed about what # did to you5

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3(a!ie why should you be e!barrassed about doing what co!es naturally4so to speak5 3#*"e got principles -hoebe and that co!pro!ised all of the!5 3;ou are so sweet (a!ie but let !e ask you this4has being so nice got you any closer to fulfilling your hopes and drea!s65 3?ell45 3;ou*"e got to fight for what you want (a!ie asking nicely .ust won*t get you anywhere in this world. +ast night # felt your inner rage your desire4you ha"e to release it and let it help you realise your drea!s. Can*t you see that65 3That*s not !y way of doing things -hoebe5 3Then !aybe it*s ti!e you lost your way4#sabella saw the potential in you (a!ie don*t disappoint her5 3Daybe #*! out of !y depth # shouldn*t ha"e agreed to work for her45 3And what will you ha"e if you walk away fro! this opportunity of a lifeti!e4working in a kitchen for the rest of your life6 #s that what you really want (a!ie65 3$o4# want to draw # want !y work to be appreciated45 3Then it*s ti!e to li"e your drea! (a!ie what #sabella is offering you is far !ore than .ust a .ob4she is gi"ing you your life (a!ie and you*d be wise to accept it5 3# think #*d better get back to !y sketching45 -hoebe stood up she knew she*d al!ost reached (a!ie but he needed a little !ore persuasion.
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3?ould you let !e pose for you to gi"e you so!e inspiration65 3?hat did you ha"e in !ind65 -hoebe un9ipped her dress and let it fall to the ground. She was wearing a black lace bra and "ery brief panties. Before (a!ie could protest -hoebe took off her underwear and walked o"er to the fallen trunk. She lay down in a pro"ocati"e pose. 3)ow about so!ething like this65 +ooking at -hoebe with one leg on the log and the other draped o"er the side all (a!ie could focus on were the pale wisps of pubic hair and what lay below the!. )e picked up his sketchpad and started to draw with each stroke of his pencil (a!ie "isualised his hand caressing -hoebe*s body. Then a !an appeared fro! the bushes behind the log -hoebe looked up but !ade no atte!pt to co"er herself. 3Christian45 (a!ie watched al!ost in a state of trance as Christian took off his clothes and knelt down behind the trunk. )e opened -hoebe*s legs wider and started to !assage her clit then slipped his finger into her "agina. Totally !es!erised by the scene unfolding before hi! (a!ie started to get aroused. Christian stood up and helped -hoebe to her feet he cli!bed o"er the trunk and sat down. Turning -hoebe to face (a!ie he pulled her back towards hi! -hoebe !oaned as she slid down onto Christian*s erection. )e caressed -hoebe*s breasts as she started to rhyth!ically slide up and down. 1nable to control hi!self any longer (a!ie stood up and

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walked o"er to the!. Standing in front of -hoebe in un9ipped his .eans and taking his penis in his hand he started to slide his hand up and down its length. -hoebe looked up at (a!ie. 3-lease45 0rabbing hold of -hoebe*s hair (a!ie forced his erection into her !outh she sucked on his penis "oraciously. (a!ie threw back his head and growled under his breath. So!ewhere in the back of his !ind (a!ie heard Christian !oaning in ecstasy then sensing -hoebe*s growing e@cite!ent he knew she was nearing her cli!a@. As -hoebe orgas!ed her whole body shook (a!ie thrust his penis deep into her !outh as he shot his hot li'uid down her throat. She al!ost choked but swallowed it all greedily. <or a !o!ent (a!ie was lost in ecstasy then he took a step back and stared at -hoebe and Christian. )e 'uickly pulled up his .eans. 3?hat is going on45 (a!ie turned and walked away. -hoebe slowly stood up and turned to face Christian. 3Eo you think he en.oyed it65 Christian stood up. 3)e*s still holding back too !uch -hoebe45 3#*d better go and find hi!5 :uickly getting dressed -hoebe picked up (a!ie*s sketchbook and ran off to find hi!.

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-hoebe found (a!ie on the far side of the lake sitting on a bench with his head in his hands. She put his sketchbook down beside hi!. 3;ou left this behind45 3Thank you now please lea"e !e alone5 3(a!ie listen to !e45 )e looked up at -hoebe. 3# don*t like your sick ga!es whate"er goes on here # don*t want to be a part of it understood65 3<ine go back to being low life scu! if that*s what you truly want (a!ie. #*ll go and ask Scott to take you back to the city4bearing in !ind you ha"e nowhere to li"e45 3#*d rather sleep on the streets than be a part of this5 3Then you*d better go and get packed5 -hoebe turned and walked away. ?hen she got to the house -hoebe went through to Scott*s office. 3(a!ie wants to lea"e5

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3?hat did you do65 3C@actly as we agreed5 3Eid (a!ie participate65 3)e had oral se@ then walked away in horror at what he*d done5 3?hat the hell is wrong with that guy65 3)e*s so fucking lost in his selfFrighteous principles # don*t know what else # can do5 3-hoebe you ha"e done all we*"e asked of you this is not a failing on your part. ,> if (a!ie wants to lea"e then # think so!ething can be arranged. #*ll need to speak to #sabella first45 3?hat shall # tell (a!ie65 3To put his suitcase in the car #*ll take hi! back to the city5 -hoebe nodded as she left the office. As she walked across the hall she saw (a!ie going up the stairs. 3(a!ie45 )e turned round. 3Scott says to put your suitcase in the car once you*re packed he*ll take you back to the city shortly5 (a!ie .ust nodded then carried on up the stairs. ?hen Scott went out to the car (a!ie was already sat inside waiting. As Scott started the car he took a !obile out of his pocket and handed it to (a!ie. 3Take this if you change your !ind call !e5 Scott headed down the dri"e. 3Aren*t you going to ask !e why # want to lea"e65
2A

3#t*s none of !y business (a!ie if you*re not happy here then why stay. $ot e"eryone appreciates #sabella*s generosity5 3Eo you know what -hoebe did to !e65 3?hat you and -hoebe do in pri"ate is none of !y concern5 3Ea!n you Scott you know e@actly what happened don*t you65 3# wouldn*t be the estate !anager if # didn*t know what was going on5 3?hat kind of ga!e is #sabella playing65 Scott suddenly sla!!ed on the brakes stopped the car and turned to look at (a!ie. 3This isn*t a ga!e (a!ie this is life ob"iously you*re not ready to li"e it. $ow get out5 3But we*re still se"eral !iles fro! the city45 3Tough shit you walk fro! here5 (a!ie didn*t feel that he should argue so he got out of the car took his suitcase out of the boot and stood by the side of the road as Scott dro"e away. Taking the !obile Scott had gi"en hi! out of his pocket (a!ie thought about calling +i9 but decided there would be too !uch to e@plain. -icking up his suitcase he started to walk towards the city.

37

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About fi"e !inutes later a car pulled up alongside (a!ie the dri"er leaned o"er and wound down the passenger side window. 3$eed a lift65 3#*! going to the city45 30et in #*! heading to the train station5 (a!ie threw his suitcase onto the back seat and cli!bed into the car. 3Thanks5 As the dri"er set off he glanced at (a!ie in the rear "iew !irror. 3?hat happened65 (a!ie decided it !ight be best to lie. 30ot in an argu!ent with the girlfriend she told !e to get out of the car didn*t think she*d seriously dri"e off and lea"e !e5 3?o!en can*t trust the! as far as you can throw the! been !arried twice # think #*"e learned !y lesson5 As they approached the outskirts of the city the !an

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turned off down a side street (a!ie looked around. 3# thought you said you were going to the station65 3Traffic*s bad at this ti!e of day # use the back streets5 (a!ie didn*t know this part of the city "ery well and started to feel apprehensi"e. Then when the !an turned down an alleyway that was a dead end he really started to panic. 3# think #*d better get out # can walk fro! here45 As (a!ie scra!bled to get out of the car a door of one of the buildings that backed on to the alleyway opened and a !an stood in (a!ie*s path. The dri"er of the car called out to hi!. 3)e*s all yours Todd45 3Thanks5 Todd grabbed hold of (a!ie took his suitcase and dragged hi! into the building. (a!ie found hi!self in a dingy roo! with a bed in the centre surrounded by ca!eras. 3?hat*s going on # de!and that you let !e go5 Todd put (a!ie*s suitcase down and turned to face hi!. 3?e*re .ust going to take so!e pictures then you can lea"e4if you can walk5 Todd laughed sadistically. A door opened and two !en walked into the roo! they were both naked as they sat down on the bed (a!ie stared in horror as he suddenly realised what was about to happen. Todd put his hand on (a!ie*s shoulder. 3Co!e on get your clothes off4no need to be shy5 3$o #*! lea"ing now4#*ll call the police45 Todd grinned !aliciously.

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3By the ti!e they get here we*ll be long gone45 -icking up a bottle fro! the table Todd wa"ed it in front of (a!ie*s face. 3And we*ll !ake sure you*re so drunk that you*ll be the one who*s arrested5 (a!ie started to feel sick all he wanted to do was get out Todd forced the bottle into (a!ie*s hand. 3Erink45 (a!ie took a few sips of the whisky Todd tipped the bottle up. Al!ost choking (a!ie desperately swallowed feeling the li'uid burning his throat. As (a!ie felt the roo! starting to spin round Todd grabbed hold of his ar! and threw hi! onto the bed. 31ndress hi!5 The two naked !en started undressing (a!ie who fought as !uch as he could but the whisky had hit hi! hard. Suddenly the door flew open. 30et away fro! hi! now5 (a!ie recognised the "oice as Scott*s he could see hi! pointing a gun at Todd. 3Alright alright .ust don*t shoot we were only going to ha"e so!e fun45 3(a!ie can you get up65 Rolling off the bed and landing on all fours (a!ie !anaged to get to his feet and stagger o"er to Scott who picked up his suitcase as he helped hi! out of the door. Scott fired a warning shot before sla!!ing the door shut then he helped (a!ie into the back of the car.
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3#*! going to be sick45 Scott !o"ed out of the way as (a!ie leaned out of the side of the car and puked into the gutter. )e !anaged to pull hi!self back into the car as Scott .u!ped into the dri"ers side and re"ersed up the alleyway to the !ain road. 3Thanks Scott4how did you know where to find !e65 3# felt guilty about !aking you walk so # dro"e back to find you saw you getting in that car and thought #*d follow to !ake sure you were alright. +ost the car when it turned down the alleyway but got here in the end. Are you ,>65 3# feel like hell do you know what they were planning to do to !e65 3# think # can guess by the set up they had in there so where do you want !e to take you65 3#f it*s not too !uch trouble back to the grange # think it*s ti!e # got a life don*t you65 3#f it keeps you out of that kind of trouble yes you are still so nai"e (a!ie45 3Then #*d better see what -hoebe can do to help !e5 Scott grinned to hi!self as they dro"e out of the city.

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-hoebe was standing outside when they arri"ed back at the grange she waited for (a!ie and Scott to get out of the car. 3Take (a!ie*s suitcase up to his roo! -hoebe he*s a bit fragile5 ,pening the back door of the car Scott helped (a!ie to his feet. Slowly they !ade their way inside and up to (a!ie*s roo!. Scott lay (a!ie down on the bed. )e turned to -hoebe and whispered in her ear. 3He almost ended up starring in a gay porn movie5 -hoebe had to stifle a laugh. 3,h that*s awful5 3Take care of hi! -hoebe5 Scott hurriedly left the roo!. #t took -hoebe a !o!ent to co!pose herself then she sat down on the side of the bed and held (a!ie*s hand. 3Can # get you anything65 3;es a new head45

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3?hat happened65 3# al!ost beca!e a gay porn star5 3<ailed the audition65 3#t*s not funny -hoebe45 (a!ie looked up at her burst out laughing then held on to his head. 3Ea!n that hurts # don*t usually drink whisky45 3# think you*d better get so!e sleep #*ll co!e back in a few hours45 3Thanks -hoebe we*"e got a lot to talk about5 -hoebe s!iled as she got up and left the roo!. ?hen she got downstairs -hoebe went to Scott*s office. 3)ow is (a!ie65 30etting so!e sleep did he accept your e@planation of how you found hi!65 3;es # think Todd ga"e hi! a good shock to the syste!5 3(a!ie says he wants to talk later !aybe we*"e finally broken hi!5 3# hope so #sabella*s .ust called she says she*s co!ing to see hi! to!orrow a bit of her persuasion will soon get hi! in the right fra!e of !ind5 3$ow #*! e@cited will #sabella be in need of !y ser"ices65 3$o doubt but .ust re!e!ber her attention will pri!arily be on (a!ie5 3,f course well #*! going to get a cup of coffee then take so!e water up to (a!ie don*t want hi! to get dehydrated5 3# thought you said he was sleeping65

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3)as that e"er stopped !e before65 -hoebe grinned as she left the office. ?hen she got to the kitchen Albert was stood by the table with his shirt off. 3Are you trying to put te!ptation in !y way65 3-hoebe # don*t need to re!o"e !y shirt to te!pt you5 She laughed as she went to !ake herself a cup of coffee. 3# hear that (a!ie went through a bit of an ordeal45 3;eah they tried to turn hi! into a porn star5 Albert laughed. 3# thought you could do that by yourself65 3,h it didn*t in"ol"e wo!en5 3Ah # see shock tactics5 3;es and it see!ed to ha"e worked4oh did you hear that #sabella*s co!ing to!orrow65 3# did # can*t wait until the parties start again always brings the house ali"e5 3So Albert4why are you standing in the kitchen halfF naked65 3#t see!ed like a good idea at the ti!e65 -hoebe put her hand on Albert*s chest. 3;ou*"e been getting the pains again ha"en*t you65 Albert took a s!all patch out of his pocket. 3# was gi"en these to try deli"ers the pain killers directly into the skin45 )e stuck the patch on his chest and picked up his shirt. 3Can we keep this between the two of us -hoebe65 3# won*t see you suffer Albert if it gets !uch worse # will
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ha"e to tell Scott5 3#f it gets that bad #*ll tell hi! !yself5 3,> #*ll be keeping an eye on you5 3Cspecially when #*! not wearing !y shirt45 Albert grinned at -hoebe as he left the kitchen still fastening his shirt. -hoebe sighed then grabbed a bottle of water out of the fridge and headed upstairs to (a!ie*s roo!.

45

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-hoebe 'uietly opened the door of (a!ie*s roo! and tiptoed o"er to the bed. -utting the bottle down -hoebe got undressed and got into bed ne@t to (a!ie. )e stirred in his sleep rolled o"er and opened one eye. 3-hoebe45 3That*s !e # bought you so!e water45 3Thanks5 (a!ie propped hi!self up on one elbow leaned o"er -hoebe and grabbed the bottle. )e took a few swigs then he pulled the co"ers back and trickled a few drops onto -hoebe*s breasts she s'uealed. 3Stop it4it*s cold5 3Really65 (a!ie put the bottle down. 3Then let !e war! the! up5 Caressing -hoebe*s breasts (a!ie kissed her teasing her tongue with his then biting her lip. 3#s that feeling war!er65 3# think the cold is spreading45

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(a!ie ran his fingers down -hoebe*s sto!ach she shuddered ecstatically under his touch. 3The cold is lower45 -hoebe panted. Slipping his hand between -hoebe*s legs (a!ie !assaged her !ound. 3,h yes4#*! getting war!er45 -hoebe was al!ost purring. Then (a!ie stopped and got out of bed -hoebe looked up at hi! and was about to ask hi! what was wrong when he knelt down by the side of the bed grabbed hold of her legs and pulled her towards hi!. <orcing -hoebe*s legs wide apart (a!ie rubbed her clit so hard that she screa!ed as !uch with pain as pleasure. 3?hat would you like !e to do -hoebe65 #n between gasps -hoebe !uttered% 3<uck !e5 (a!ie slowly slid a finger into -hoebe*s dripping wet pussy. 3Are you sure65 3,h yes4(a!ie4please <1C> DC=5 Sliding .ust the end of his cock into -hoebe sent her into ecstatic spas!s (a!ie pushed deeper. 3(a!ie4please45 -hoebe breathed hea"ily and tried to push herself against (a!ie but he pulled back. 3#f you really want fucking -hoebe45 #n one swift !o"e (a!ie grabbed hold of -hoebe and rolled her on to her face. As -hoebe felt (a!ie*s cock against

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the crease of her backside she tried to !o"e away he slapped her backside so hard that she yelped. )olding tightly to -hoebe*s hips (a!ie pushed the end of his cock into her arse. 3Ea!n you are so tight -hoebe45 -hoebe was still trying to get away but (a!ie was holding her too tightly. 3(a!ie please don*t4it hurts45 3Eo you want !e to stop65 3;es5 (a!ie ra!!ed his cock in deeper -hoebe screa!ed. 3$o (a!ie please $,=5 3#*ll take that as a yes5 0rowling under his breath (a!ie thrust hard into -hoebe*s arse he no longer heard her screa!s .ust the sound of his heart pounding as he beca!e lost in ecstasy. Then throwing back his head (a!ie ga"e one last deep thrust and e@ploded in an orgas!ic rage digging his fingers into -hoebe*s hips. -hoebe had al!ost passed out with the pain and the shock of what (a!ie was doing to her. She suddenly found herself being rolled onto her back. (a!ie looked down at her she had tears rolling down her face. )e grinned !aliciously. 3$ow that was a good fuck5 (a!ie stood up and pulled -hoebe to her feet she could barely stand. 3)u!ans so pathetically weak5 -hoebe looked up at (a!ie the look on his face4it was al!ost4 30et out of here -hoebe while you still can4unless you*d
8H

like a repeat perfor!ance5 (a!ie*s laugh was harsh and e"il -hoebe pulled away fro! hi! and !anaged to stagger to the door picking up her clothes on the way. As she shut the door she could still hear (a!ie laughing she leaned back against the wall and took a deep breath. )earing footsteps she looked round to see Scott walking towards her. 3Are you ,>65 3#*ll sur"i"e da!n he was rough but #*"e had worse5 Scott slid his hand between -hoebe*s legs. 3And he ne"er ga"e you the pleasure you deser"ed did he65 -hoebe gyrated her hips pushing against Scott*s hand as he slid a finger inside her she !oaned softly. Scott stopped and put his finger to -hoebe*s !outh she licked her wetness off and sucked his finger. 30o and get cleaned up and wait in your roo! #*ll deal with you later4first #*"e got to see how (a!ie is5 3;es sir5 As -hoebe turned to walk away Scott slapped her backside she turned and s!iled at hi! before heading for her roo!.

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After -hoebe had left (a!ie sat down on the bed he could still feel his heart pounding the rage coursing through is "eins. ;et so!ewhere in his !ind so!ething was screa!ing at hi!. )e went through to the bathroo! and turned the shower on. Standing there with the water pouring down his body he started to feel increasingly sick. (a!ie slu!ped to the floor of the shower as the realisation of what he*d done to -hoebe started to sink in. )is sto!ach hea"ed and before he could get to the toilet he puked his guts out. Sitting there in a pool of "o!it (a!ie started to cry his whole body shook as he puked again and again. )e didn*t hear Scott co!ing into the bathroo! he was so o"erwhel!ed with pain and guilt. 3?hat the fuck45 (a!ie looked up at Scott. 3# a! so sorry5 3Christ let*s get you cleaned up5 Scott held his breath the stench was o"erpowering he !anaged to get (a!ie to his feet and leaned hi! against the

50

wall. Slowly the "o!it started to wash away then Scott turned the shower to cold. (a!ie screa!ed and tried to get out of the way but Scott held on to hi! tightly. (a!ie gasped for breath. 3Scott what the hell are you doing45 >nowing the shock had bought (a!ie to his senses Scott turned the water te!perature up again. 30et cleaned up #*ll wait for you in the bedroo!5 (a!ie 'uickly showered hi!self down the stench of the "o!it was only .ust dissipating it was al!ost enough to !ake hi! start puking again. 0etting out of the shower (a!ie wrapped a towel around his waist and went to .oin Scott who was sitting in the chair waiting for hi!. 3#s -hoebe alright65 3She*ll reco"er5 3#*ll go and apologise to her when #*! dressed if she*ll speak to !e5 3So do you want to tell !e what happened65 3# can barely re!e!ber anything it*s all a blur45 (a!ie turned away fro! Scott*s penetrating glare. 3;ou don*t usually drink whisky do you65 3$o # don*t drink that !uch at all really the occasional pint now and then45 3Then !ay # suggest you keep well away fro! whisky in future5 Scott slowly got to his feet not taking his eyes off (a!ie who was shifting fro! one foot to the other ner"ously. 30et so!e rest you can talk to -hoebe in the !orning and

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don*t forget #sabella is co!ing to see you5 (a!ie groaned as Scott put his hand on his shoulder. 3#t will get better (a!ie4in ti!e5 ?ithout saying another word Scott left the roo!. Throwing his towel on the chair (a!ie put his bathrobe on for so!e reason he felt co!pelled to do so!e drawing before going to bed. Sitting down at the desk (a!ie opened his sketch pad as soon as he started to draw he began to feel lightFheaded his heart started to pound. )e worked al!ost frenetically until a picture started to e!erge. After he*d shaded in the final section (a!ie sat back and looked at the picture. 3$o=5 )e gasped in horror when he realised what he*d drawn it was one of the !ost e"il looking de!ons he*d e"er seen. The de!on was on its knees behind a wo!an who was on all fours it*s !assi"e erection was thrust into the wo!an*s arse. C"en though it was only a picture (a!ie swore he could hear the wo!an screa!ing his sto!ach hea"ed as the !e!ory of what he*d done to -hoebe ca!e flooding back. (a!ie stood up al!ost losing his balance with the sickness he was feeling. -icking up his sketchpad (a!ie tore the page out and threw it into the wasteFpaper bin. Staggering o"er to the bed (a!ie collapsed into a shaking 'ui"ering heap. )olding on to his sto!ach and with tears rolling down his face he fell asleep.

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Coughing and choking (a!ie woke up gasping for breath to say he felt like hell was an understate!ent. )e rolled out of bed and landed on the floor with a thud then slowly !anaged to get to his feet. Taking a !o!ent to steady hi!self (a!ie pulled on his .eans and picking up a shirt he left his roo! and headed for the kitchen. -hoebe was sat at the table when (a!ie staggered into the kitchen he was barefoot and his shirt was open. )is eyes were red and puffy and he was whiter than a sheet. 3(a!ie45 )e stopped in his tracks and held on to the table to get his balance. 3#t was (a!ie this is .ust his corpse45 (u!ping to her feet -hoebe helped hi! to a chair. 3#*ll !ake you a cup of coffee5 As she turned to walk away (a!ie grabbed hold of her wrist. 3# a! truly sorry -hoebe5 She bent down put her ar!s around his neck and kissed

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hi!. 3# know it was the whisky that was to bla!e don*t worry (a!ie e"erything will be alright5 ?rapping his ar!s around -hoebe*s waist (a!ie pulled her close and held her tight. 3?hat is happening to !e -hoebe65 3;ou*re soul is waking up (a!ie it isn*t always an easy transition5 )e looked up at her 'ui99ically. 3# don*t understand45 3#t isn*t !y .ob to help you (a!ie #sabella will be here soon she*ll e@plain #*! sure5 (a!ie let -hoebe go and watched her as she !ade a cup of coffee. C"en in that brief !o!ent he*d held her he could feel so!ething stirring deep inside a dark raw ani!al passion4 he 'uickly stopped the thought fearing he would lose control. 3There you go4want so!ething to eat65 -hoebe put the coffee in front of (a!ie and s!iled at hi!. 3# really couldn*t face food right now thanks for the coffee5 3Day # suggest you get yourself tidied up before #sabella arri"es ha"e you got anything s!art to wear65 3$o ne"er had ti!e to buy anything45 3$ot a proble! #*ll go and find you a suit finish your coffee #*ll see you in your roo! shortly5 As -hoebe left the kitchen Scott ca!e out of his office and called her o"er. 3)ow*s (a!ie65
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3-retty bad the beast al!ost awoke again # felt it when he held !e thank goodness #sabella is co!ing this isn*t so!ething we could deal with5 3?here are you going now65 3To find so!ething suitable for (a!ie to wear #sabella will be furious if she sees hi! in the state he*s in and #*ll get the bla!e and lose !y bonus5 Scott slid his hand under -hoebe*s skirt and s'uee9ed her backside. 3#*! sure # can !ake up for it5 3Thank you sir5 -hoebe s!iled at Scott then hurried up the stairs. ?hen (a!ie got to his roo! he found -hoebe waiting lying on the bed was a black suit a white shirt black tie and black shoes. 3There you go one s!art outfit5 3Thanks -hoebe but #*"e ne"er worn a suit in !y life4 that*s not an Ar!ani is it65 -hoebe grinned. 3#sabella will e@pect nothing less4now get those clothes off and let*s see how s!art we can !ake you look5 (a!ie hesitated for a !o!ent then took off his .eans and shirt. ?ith -hoebe*s help he got dressed and stood in front of the !irror. 3Sit down (a!ie let !e sort your hair out5 )e sat down as -hoebe went to the bathroo!. She returned with a co!b and a pot of gel (a!ie growled under his breath.

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3;ou*re not putting that stuff on !y hair45 3(ust sit still5 -hoebe put so!e gel on (a!ie*s hair and soon ta!ed his unruly thick brown curls into a sleek groo!ed hairstyle. 3There doesn*t that look better65 (a!ie stood up and went o"er to the !irror and groaned. 3# look like a washed up fil! star or worse pop star5 3;ou look handso!e (a!ie li"e with it5 -hoebe brushed a few stray hairs off (a!ie*s .acket. 3,h shit look at the ti!e # need to be downstairs ready for #sabella45 3Shall # wait here65 3$o it !ight be best if you*re there too nothing like first i!pressions5

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?hen -hoebe and (a!ie arri"ed downstairs Albert was already waiting and Scott was .ust opening the door he glanced across at (a!ie and nodded at hi! -hoebe tugged (a!ie*s slee"e. 3Scott approves of your suit5 She whispered. As #sabella walked into the hall it felt to (a!ie as if the air was charged with electricity. She was dressed in a black trouser suit the .acket clung to her cur"es beautifully and (a!ie instantly noticed she was wearing nothing but a black lace bra underneath. She walked straight o"er to hi!. 3(a!ie45 #sabella put her hand on his face and s!iled at hi! it was all (a!ie could do to stay standing. 3)as -hoebe been looking after you65 3;es #sabella "ery well indeed5 30ood5 #sabella s!iled at -hoebe then took hold of (a!ie*s ar!. 3+et*s take a walk we ha"e !uch to discuss5

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She led (a!ie out of the house and down the path to the lake. 3There*s no need to be ner"ous (a!ie #*! not going to eat you5 #sabella*s laugh was gentle yet disar!ing. She walked o"er to the bench and sat down indicating that (a!ie should sit ne@t to her. 3Scott told !e of the awful incident with that ghastly !an who picked you up he didn*t har! you did he65 3$o Scott sa"ed !e .ust in ti!e5 3?hat possessed you to want to lea"e65 (a!ie blushed slightly. 3#t was .ust a !isunderstanding5 3?as -hoebe too forceful with you65 3#sabella please # do not feel co!fortable talking about what happened5 3But if -hoebe has done so!ething wrong you !ust infor! !e45 3#f anyone has done anything wrong it*s !e5 3And what did you do wrong65 (a!ie glanced at #sabella her deep green eyes see!ed to pierce hi! through to his "ery soul. 3Eo you ha"e a proble! talking about se@ (a!ie65 )e went to stand up but #sabella put her hand on his thigh. 3Eon*t keep running away (a!ie # realise all this is a bit o"erwhel!ing for you but45 (a!ie stared at #sabella.
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3A bit o"erwhel!ing4the first night #*! here -hoebe forces !e to ha"e se@ with her on your instructions. Then the ne@t day she*s screwing Christian and lures !e into taking part then last night45 #sabella stroked (a!ie*s thigh al!ost touching his balls he took a deep breath. 3?hy do you keep fighting your natural instincts (a!ie65 3<ucking around is not !y natural instinct5 (a!ie instantly felt e!barrassed by what he*d said and looked away. 3Daybe you*d like to show !e what drawings you*"e done5 3#*"e not actually !anaged to do any5 #sabella got up and stood in front of (a!ie. 3# don*t belie"e that5 She turned and walked back towards the house (a!ie swore under his breath and ran to catch her up.

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#sabella walked straight into (a!ie*s roo! and o"er to the desk. She picked up the sketchpad. 3# thought you said you hadn*t done any drawings45 (a!ie stood by her side and looked in horror the drawing he*d thrown in the wasteFpaper bin the night before was sitting in his sketchbook without a crease. 3#s this what you did to -hoebe65 (a!ie glared at #sabella. 3$o #*! not a de!on5 3Aren*t you65 (a!ie started to feel di99y he backed away fro! #sabella. 3+ook # know you*re only trying to help !e but # do not like what goes on here4and # know what happened last ti!e # asked to lea"e but45 #sabella grabbed hold of (a!ie*s ar!s and stared into his eyes. 3See what your future will be like if you stay with !e (a!ie5 )e stared at #sabella and for a !o!ent e"erything went

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black. Then slowly a roo! ca!e into focus it looked like an art gallery #sabella was standing by his side. 3+ook (a!ie your paintings4all this is yours45 (a!ie looked around at the paintings all of the! were painted in "i"id colours and depicted erotic e@tre!e fantasy scenes. )e o"erheard a !an and a wo!an discussing one of the! he could sense their e@cite!ent as the wo!an said it would look perfect in their bedroo!. 3Ah and here is the artist hi!self45 A !an walked into the gallery dressed in black his long hair tied back he had an air of power about hi!. The roo! fell silent as e"eryone turned to face the !an. (a!ie gasped when he realised he was looking at hi!self. Suddenly e"erything went black again and when (a!ie opened his eyes and looked at #sabella he caught a gli!pse of red fire in her eyes before they turned to green. 3#sabella4was that a genuine "ision of the future65 3,f course that is what # saw the !o!ent # !et you your potential your power4but if you want to walk away into obscurity45 3# want that which is rightfully !ine #sabella5 (a!ie put his ar! around #sabella*s waist but as he pulled her to hi! he saw the fire bla9ing in her eyes. 3+et !e go (a!ie you are not ready for !e yet5 )e released #sabella and took a step back trying to cal! the beast he could feel raging inside. #sabella held up his sketchpad. 3# ask you again (a!ie is this what you did with -hoebe

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last night65 (a!ie growled under his breath. 3;es # fucked her arse so hard4and #*ll do it again45 #sabella put her hand on (a!ie*s chest. 3#t feels good doesn*t it65 Suddenly (a!ie started to feel nauseous he staggered back and sat on the edge of the bed. 3# don*t want to talk about it any!ore5 3(a!ie you*"e got to let your conditioning go the de!on has to be unleashed then you !ust learn to control it do you understand65 (a!ie looked up at #sabella. 3#*! not sure that # do5 3>eep sketching don*t be afraid of what you draw. ;our new flat will be ready by <riday # shall get Scott to arrange for you to ha"e your own car. $ow # ha"e so!e business to deal with in preparation for the first party4you won*t let !e down will you (a!ie65 3$o #sabella5 30ood5 (a!ie watched her lea"e as she closed the door he stood up and took off the suit he couldn*t think straight e"erything was a blur. ?earing nothing but his bo@ers (a!ie sat down at the desk and stared at his sketch book. -icking up a pencil he began to draw. #sabella went straight to Scott*s office and shut the door. 3#*"e told (a!ie his flat will be ready on <riday can you
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ha"e a car ready for hi!5 3,f course is he still ha"ing doubts about staying65 3)e was but # showed hi! the "ision5 3All of it or selected highlights65 3?hat do you think Scott his !ind is already confused enough start gi"ing hi! choices and we*ll lose hi! altogether5 3Shall # tell -hoebe to continue working on hi!65 3$o lea"e hi! alone for the rest of the week #*"e told hi! to focus on his sketching5 3)e really does not understand what is going on does he65 3#*! sure after he attends the first party it will beco!e clearer. And talking of which can you !ake the necessary arrange!ents for ne@t weekend5 3So soon65 3;es # know (a!ie is only going ho!e on <riday so we*ll gi"e hi! the one night then back here for the party on Saturday. )e*ll be going out with that +i9 #*ll allow the! one night together no !ore5 3#t*ll be interesting to see what happens whether (a!ie !anages to restrain hi!self45 3#ndeed4and talking of restraining4is -hoebe ready65 3;es she*s waiting downstairs5 30ood are you going to .oin us65 3#f you ha"e no ob.ection # shall let -hoebe ha"e all the pleasure to herself she*s been really e@cited about seeing you4and getting her bonus5 #sabella s!iled and her eyes !o!entarily flashed red.

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3Then #*d better go and gi"e -hoebe her reward #*ll see you before # lea"e for the city5

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#n his roo! (a!ie had finished his sketch again working with barely an awareness of what he was doing. )olding the picture up he had to stop his sto!ach fro! hea"ing when he realised what he*d drawn. There was a naked wo!an strapped to an altar and a de!on standing between her legs when (a!ie looked closer he realised that the wo!an on the altar looked like -hoebe. )e .u!ped to his feet pulled on his .eans grabbed his shirt and headed downstairs. #nstincti"ely he found the door that led to the cellar a flight of stone steps led down into the darkness. (a!ie hesitated for a !o!ent but knew he had to find -hoebe. At the botto! of the stairs was a long corridor with roo!s off on either side. Stopping outside the second door on the right (a!ie took a deep breath before going inside. )e saw -hoebe e@actly as he*d drawn her in the sketch her body naked and co"ered in sweat. The de!on*s head was between -hoebe*s legs (a!ie could see it*s long tongue flicking in and out as -hoebe writhed and !oaned in ecstasy.

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Suddenly the de!on turned round it*s eyes bla9ing red (a!ie could feel it*s rage. Then he felt a wa"e of nausea as he realised the de!on was #sabella. )e staggered back out of the roo! putting his hand on the wall to steady hi!self before turning and running back towards the steps. By the ti!e he got to the top (a!ie was barely able to breathe. 0asping and holding his sto!ach he collapsed on to the floor. ?hat happened ne@t was a bit of a blur until (a!ie found hi!self lying on his bed with Scott sitting beside hi!. 3Scott4#sabella is a45 (a!ie choked trying to get the word out he .ust couldn*t bring hi!self to say it. Suddenly the door flew open (a!ie looked up to see #sabella walking towards hi! she was wearing a long black silk robe. 3;ou can go now Scott let !e talk to (a!ie alone5 Scott nodded as he left the roo!. As #sabella sat down on the edge of the bed (a!ie backed away. 3Eon*t you co!e anywhere near !e # know what you are45 3?ill you at least listen to what # ha"e to say65 3#t won*t change !y !ind that "ision you showed !e co!es with a price and #*! not prepared to pay it5 3Alright that is your choice that is how !ost de!ons react at first. <or generations !y fa!ily ha"e been de!on guardians here on Carth our role is to help de!ons beco!e aware of what they are and help the! to li"e as nor!al a life as possible5
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(a!ie snorted. 3)ow can de!ons be considered nor!al45 3Eon*t you consider yourself to be nor!al65 3;es but #*! not a45 3;ou are (a!ie4now if # !ay continue45 (a!ie didn*t respond so #sabella carried on with her e@planation. 3The first thing you need to understand is that de!ons are not e"il creatures that is a !yth started by religious 9ealots who are so se@ually repressed that e"en to think of se@ !ust !ean that you*re possessed by a de!on. As you !ay ha"e already realised de!ons ha"e a passion for se@ it is in a way their life blood. 3Dy role and that of the other guardians is to pro"ide a safe way for the de!ons to satiate their carnal desires. ;ou*"e e@perienced what your de!on is like the power it has what it is capable of. #!agine that being allowed to ra!page unchecked. #t is ironic that despite being portrayed as e"il beings we*re actually doing the world a fa"our by controlling the de!ons otherwise there*d be far !ore rapists on the streets45 (a!ie was ha"ing a hard ti!e belie"ing what #sabella had told hi! and that he too was a de!on. )e*d ne"er really been a religious person but he certainly didn*t feel he was e"il either. Because despite #sabella*s reassurances he still percei"ed de!ons as e"il. 3So is that what your parties are about de!on orgies65 #sabella laughed softly.

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3$ot e@actly orgies # .ust pro"ide a safe en"iron!ent for the de!ons under !y charge to engage in whiche"er se@ual acti"ity suits their nature5 3# know #*"e said this so !any ti!es but # really do not want to be a part of all this #sabella. 1ntil # ca!e here # had no indication whatsoe"er that # was a de!on and45 #sabella abruptly stood up and glared at (a!ie. 3<ine pack your belongings and wait for !e downstairs #*ll take you back to the city to your sad lonely life with no future. But understand one thing (a!ie your de!on will !anifest itself at so!e point and without !y guidance45 3(ust take !e back to nor!ality #sabella5 3And where do you plan to li"e65 3#*ll find so!ewhere # !anaged perfectly well last ti!e. ;ou can take !e to +i9*s house45 #sabella*s laugh was cold and callous. 3Diss nor!ality herself # hope you two will be happy together though # doubt it5 #sabella stor!ed out of the roo! and sla!!ed the door shut.

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#t was nearly !idnight when #sabella dropped (a!ie off outside +i9*s house. $o one had spoken to hi! when he left the grange but (a!ie had no regrets about lea"ing. )e stood and watched as #sabella dro"e away then walked up the path and knocked on +i9*s door. (a!ie heard a noise abo"e hi! and took a step back to see +i9 hanging out of the window. 3(a!ie what the hell are you doing here65 3Can # co!e in4please5 3#*ll be down in a !o!ent5 Do!ents later +i9 opened the door and ushered (a!ie through to the sitting roo!. 3Try not to !ake too !uch noise !y father*s asleep if we wake hi! up he*ll ask too !any 'uestions5 +i9 sat down ne@t to (a!ie on the sofa wrapped in a soft towelling robe (a!ie*s thoughts strayed to wondering if she was wearing anything underneath. )e sat upright to try and stop his thoughts. 3So what are you doing here (a!ie65

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3#*! not working for #sabella any!ore5 30onna tell !e what happened65 3# don*t really want to talk about it but you were right about the orgies4well al!ost45 3,h !y god (a!ie4did you45 3Against !y will please +i9 # need to get so!e sleep can we talk about it in the !orning it !ight not see! such a night!are in the light of day5 3,> you can sleep in the spare roo! since Du! passed away it*s .ust been used for .unk if you can find the bed you can crash there for now5 3Thanks # really appreciate it +i95 (a!ie leaned o"er and kissed her cheek. 3#*"e !issed you +i95 3;ou*"e only been gone a few days4co!e on let*s show you to your roo!5 (a!ie followed +i9 upstairs she opened the door to the spare roo!. 3#*ll see you in the !orning then you can tell !e all the grueso!e details5 3They are grueso!e too thanks +i9 # really appreciate you letting !e stay5 +i9 playfully thu!ped (a!ie*s ar! before walking away towards her roo!. (a!ie watched her for a !o!ent then closed the door. )e stood and leaned against the wall his heart was pounding biting his lip he tried to get control of the rage that he was feeling deep inside. Do!ents later he 'uietly opened the door there was a
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gli!!er of light underneath +i9*s bedroo! door silently he walked across the landing pausing for a !o!ent before going inside. +i9 looked up at hi! startled. 3(a!ie45 )e put a finger to his lips as he walked o"er to the bed. 3Silence we don*t want to wake your father do we5 +i9 sat up and pulled the co"ers around her (a!ie knew she wasn*t wearing anything. )e pulled the co"ers back the sight of +i9*s naked body al!ost sent hi! o"er the edge. As +i9 tried to pull the co"ers o"er her (a!ie slapped her across the face. 3+ea"e the! alone5 )e held on to +i9*s thighs and pulled her to the edge of the bed. 3(a!ie please don*t45 3# said silence5 )e slapped her again +i9 fell onto her back whi!pering softly under her breath she felt totally powerless to resist. (a!ie knelt down and forced +i9*s legs wide open. Before +i9 knew what was happening (a!ie undid his .eans pulled his bo@ers down and thrust his !assi"e erection deep inside +i9 who instincti"ely tried to pull back. )olding on to +i9*s hips (a!ie thrust harder and harder. 3;ou need a good fucking +i95 Through her tears +i9 looked up at (a!ie and for a brief second saw a flash of red in his eyes she screa!ed with fear and pain. (a!ie lost in the ecstasy of the !o!ent didn*t hear the door opening behind hi!. #t wasn*t until he felt a crack on

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the back of his head that he stopped and looked round to see a !an stood there brandishing a walking stick. 30et off !y daughter you bastard=5 (a!ie snarled at the !an as he raised the stick and took another swing. Catching hold of the stick (a!ie twisted it round so the !an lost his balance and fell to the floor. Then he turned back to +i9 slowly withdrew and got to his feet. Taking hold of +i9*s wrists he pulled her upright she looked up at hi! with tears rolling down her face. (a!ie put his finger on her lips and prised the! open she stared at hi! in horror as he forced his erection deep into her !outh. +i9 tried to pull away but (a!ie grabbed hold of her hair and thrust harder. 3Dake sure you swallow e"ery last drop you bitch5 (a!ie growled as he e.aculated +i9 choked and gagged as the war! li'uid poured down her throat. +etting her go (a!ie pulled his .eans up and turned to face +i9*s father who was .ust staggering to his feet. (a!ie picked up the walking stick and staring at the old !an broke it in half. 3Say a word of this to anyone and this will be your neck5 Then (a!ie turned and walked out of the roo!. As he crossed the landing he started to feel nauseous and desperately fought to stop hi!self fro! puking his guts out. -icking up his suitcase fro! the spare roo! he hurriedly !ade his way downstairs as the realisation of what he*d done to +i9 dawned on hi!.

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(a!ie walked out on to the street as the cold air hit hi! he doubled o"er and puked in the gutter. ,nce the worst was o"er (a!ie sat down on the kerb and put his head in his hands. Daybe #sabella had been right he was a de!on because ne"er in his right !ind would he ha"e hurt +i9 like that. The thought !ade his sto!ach hea"e again. As he leaned o"er to be sick (a!ie beca!e aware of a figure standing o"er hi!. (a!ie looked up to see a tall !an dressed in a long black leather coat towering o"er hi!. )e could barely !ake out the !an*s features apart fro! the fact he had long black hair and gaunt features. The !an held out his hand (a!ie reluctantly took hold of it and the !an pulled hi! to his feet. 3+ook like you*re dealing with an internal struggle5 3-ardon65 3#nner de!on getting the better of you65 3# ha"e no idea what you*re talking about5 The !an threw back his head and laughed. 3# think you do (a!ie45

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3)ow do you know !y na!e65 3+et*s get you so!ewhere safe first then we can talk ,>65 (a!ie didn*t feel strong enough to argue he .ust nodded. As a car pulled up alongside the !an took hold of (a!ie*s ar! and helped hi! into the back seat putting his suitcase down ne@t to hi!. As the !an got into the car he turned round to face (a!ie. 3Dy apologies # should ha"e introduced !yself #*! )unter Stol9enburg4.5 Then he turned to the dri"er. 3Take us ho!e Sa!uel5 (a!ie leaned back and closed his eyes wondering what kind of night!are he was getting in"ol"ed with this ti!e. 3(a!ie45 )e opened his eyes and sat up. 3?e*re here5 <or a !o!ent (a!ie was confused as to where he was )unter helped hi! out of the car and he saw they were standing outside a large 7ictorian style house. 3?here a! #65 3Dy ho!e about fi"e !iles outside the city co!e let*s get you a drink. Sa!uel can you take (a!ie*s suitcase upstairs5 (a!ie followed )unter inside and through to a study taking a look around he started to laugh. 3#*! sorry it re!inds !e of Sherlock )ol!es=5 )unter ga"e hi! a long look then indicated to (a!ie to take a seat. 3?hat would you like to drink65
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3Eon*t suppose you ha"e any beer do you65 )unter pressed a s!all button on the wall then poured hi!self a large whisky. The door opened and Sa!uel walked into the study. 3Can you get a beer for (a!ie5 Sa!uel nodded. )unter went and sat down by the fire and waited until Sa!uel bought (a!ie his beer before taking a sip of his drink. (a!ie drank half of his beer straight down. 3# needed that5 3So do you want to tell !e what happened earlier65 (a!ie looked down in e!barrass!ent. 3$ot really suffice to say #*"e hurt a "ery dear friend5 3;our de!on got the better of you45 3;es but4#*! not45 3(a!ie the sooner you accept what you are the sooner you can learn to control your carnal desires5 3)ow do you know so !uch about !e4are you an associate of #sabella&s65 3;ou are a de!on (a!ie # !ake it !y business to know e"erything about e!erging de!ons especially one*s who*"e been unfortunate enough to encounter #sabella5 3She told !e she*s a guardian45 )unter laughed. 3Eid she indeed you ha"e so !uch to learn (a!ie but one thing # can assure you is that #sabella is no guardian5 3So what is she and what are you65 3?ell # can truthfully say # a! a guardian and #*! pretty

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da!n annoyed that #sabella got to you before # did. The 7on )agen*s ha"e ne"er been guardians but #sabella would dearly lo"e to be one. But for that you need power and ancient lineage neither of which she has. Deanwhile # battle "aliantly to stop her5 3?hy was # so i!portant to her65 3;ou tell !e what did she want fro! you65 3Dy sketches5 3?hat do you draw65 3?ell that is what is so strange since # !o"ed to the city #*"e been drawing predo!inately in black ink4and !ainly pictures of de!ons45 )unter sat bolt upright. 3Eo you ha"e your sketches with you65 3;es in !y suitcase4shall # go and fetch the!65 3?ell # think you need to get so!e rest so #*ll show you to your roo! and take a 'uick look5 3,>5

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)unter took (a!ie upstairs and down the landing to one of the bedroo!s. (a!ie 'uickly opened his suitcase and took out his sketchbook he hesitated for a !o!ent before gi"ing it to )unter. 3To be honest #*"e not been too happy with !y recent drawings45 )unter opened the sketchbook. 3# can see why #sabella was interested in you45 )e looked closely at the last sketch that (a!ie had done of -hoebe and #sabella. 3So this is what she gets up to at the grange is it # suspected as !uch. Control de!ons by gi"ing the! a safe place to unleash their carnal desires. ?ho is this wo!an on the altar65 3That*s -hoebe45 3And she seduced you65 (a!ie looked away e!barrassed. 3;es5 3Alright # don*t want to !ake you feel any !ore

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unco!fortable than you already are get so!e sleep and we*ll discuss e"erything in the !orning5 3# need to get !y life sorted out since walking away fro! #sabella #*"e got no .ob and nowhere to li"e45 )unter put his ar! around (a!ie*s shoulder. 3# can find !ore than enough work for you and you*re !ore than welco!e to stay here rent free of course5 (a!ie started to feel apprehensi"e about the way )unter was looking at hi!. 3Thanks #*ll gi"e it so!e consideration5 As (a!ie bent down to pick up his suitcase he was aware that )unter was standing there staring at his backside he 'uickly stood up and turned round. 3?hat is it with you de!ons65 3Answer that yourself you*re a de!on too5 )unter turned and walked out of the roo!. (a!ie sat down on the bed desperately wondering how he could get away fro! anything re!otely connected to de!ons. )e lay back on the bed thinking about what he*d done to +i9 and wished there was a way he could apologise to her. ?ith his thoughts twisting in tor!ent (a!ie fell asleep.

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Awakening with a start (a!ie sat up and tried to get his bearings slowly he re!e!bered where he was in yet another de!ons house. Sighing to hi!self he got up and went in search of a drink. As he !ade his way down the stairs (a!ie realised he hadn*t taken a shower or got changed to hell with it he thought to hi!self coffee first shower later. -urely by luck (a!ie found the kitchen and was about to start opening the cupboards when Sa!uel appeared in the doorway. 3Can # help you65 (a!ie looked round. 3-lease #*! in desperate need of a cup of coffee5 3#f you*d like to take a seat #*ll !ake so!e fresh for you5 Sitting down at the table (a!ie took a good look at Sa!uel he certainly didn*t see! like a de!on. ?ith his soft blonde curly hair and slender fra!e he looked !ore angelic than de!onic. 3Ee!on5 3-ardon65

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(a!ie glanced at Sa!uel as he put his coffee down in front of hi!. 3;ou were wondering if # was a de!on # was confir!ing your suspicions5 3Are de!ons psychic65 3$o # could tell by the way you were looking at !e (a!ie5 3But you had your back to !e5 Sa!uel grinned. 3Call it a knack # ha"e5 3So are you )unter*s dri"er65 3A!ongst other things5 3And "ery useful he is too5 (a!ie turned round to see )unter stood in the doorway. 3Are you ready for our discussion65 3Sure5 -icking up his coffee (a!ie followed )unter through to the study and sat down )unter re!ained standing. 3# ha"e already e@plained to you that #sabella is on a 'uest for !ore power in the hope that she can beco!e a guardian. To achie"e that she needs !ore de!ons though #*! doing !y best to stop her fro! finding any!ore. ?hat #sabella desperately needs is a su!!oner a de!on who has the gift of "ision to be able to attract the !ost powerful of de!ons. Su!!oners are rare de!ons # ha"e personally only known two in all the centuries #*"e been a guardian45 3# didn*t think you looked that old are you i!!ortal65 )unter s!iled and nodded. 3?earing well aren*t #65
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3?ell yes4sorry please continue5 3(a!ie you are a su!!oner5 3?hat4how4!e65 3;es through your sketches you "isualise de!ons once you are fully aware your drawings will su!!on the! to you45 3That is one heck of a responsibility5 3#ndeed it is and now you realise why #sabella was so interested in possessing you for herself the power you would gi"e her would be i!!easurable5 3;ou said that you*"e known two su!!oners before well if you*re i!!ortal why aren*t they still ali"e65 3The first one lost his life to one of the de!ons he su!!oned the second was !istaken for a warlock and burned at the stake45 (a!ie pondered for a !o!ent. 3Eangerous .ob # guess there*s no optFout clause65 )unter glared at (a!ie. 3$o5 3So what*s the plan now65 3?e awaken your de!on5 3)ow different will # be65 3;ou*ll be !ore powerful your drawings will take on a new intensity4and your se@ life will i!pro"e i!!ensely5 3#*ll be honest with you )unter # a! scared shitless5 3That*s understandable and # ad!ire your honesty #*d be !ore concerned if you*d sat there full of pride saying you were looking forward to beco!ing a de!on5

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3There is so!ething else that*s bothering !e #sabella showed !e a "ision in an atte!pt to get !e to stay. # saw a gallery !y gallery with !y artwork4# was fa!ous45 3?hy does that bother you isn*t it what you deser"e65 3?ell it would be nice for !y work to be appreciated45 )unter took a deep breath (a!ie could tell he was trying to contain his anger. 3$o disrespect (a!ie but you are such a fucking wi!p the sooner we kick your de!on ass into gear the better5 Standing up abruptly (a!ie glared at )unter. 3Eid # wake so!ething (a!ie65 0rowling under his breath (a!ie took a step closer feeling his de!on starting to stir. )unter put his ar!s around (a!ie and held hi! tightly. 3#s growling the best that you can do65 (a!ie looked up at )unter and snarled. 3$ow you*re getting !e e@cited5 <eeling )unter*s growing erection pressing against his thigh (a!ie*s sto!ach hea"ed he pulled free of )unter and staggered back on to the sofa. 3)unter you*re a sick bastard5 >neeling down )unter took (a!ie*s face in his hands and kissed hi! probing his !outh with his tongue before biting his lip and letting hi! go. 3Awakening your de!on is going to be so pleasurable5 (a!ie tried to push hi! away. 3#*d rather surrender to #sabella than you5 )unter pulled hi!self up to his full height and started to
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get undressed (a!ie instincti"ely knew what he was doing and could only watch transfi@ed. As )unter stood before hi! naked he slowly started to transfor! growing in stature until his de!onic for! towered o"er (a!ie. All (a!ie could do was stare at )unter*s !assi"e erection directly in line with his "ision his de!on wanted to hold it caress it4his hu!an self wanted to run away screa!ing. The conflict between his two hal"es was tearing (a!ie apart. <orcing hi!self to look away (a!ie cla!bered o"er the back of the sofa and stood staring at )unter. 3# don*t want to do this5 3;ou do not ha"e a choice5 )unter*s deep "oice boo!ed out sending chills down (a!ie*s spine. 3# don*t belie"e you4or #sabella4# do ha"e a choice5 (a!ie ran o"er to the door then turned to face )unter. 3# a! not going to beco!e a de!on5 (a!ie ran down the hallway and out of the front door passing Sa!uel who stared at hi! then walked through to the study. 3Eo you want !e to go after hi!65 )unter had begun his transfor!ation back to his nor!al self. 3$o let hi! go he*ll soon disco"er he cannot sur"i"e in the real world5 3?hat if #sabella finds hi!65 3She*ll know he*s been here and that #*! watching her she won*t dare go anywhere near hi!. Actually on second

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thoughts follow hi! but !ake sure he doesn*t see you5 3And if there are any proble!s65 3#f anyone is in danger because of (a!ie bring hi! back here if he fights do whate"er is necessary to bring hi! under control5 31nderstood5 Sa!uel headed out of the door.

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(a!ie had no idea where he was going he .ust blindly ran in the direction of the city. )e needed to talk to +i9 but after what he*d done to her4he stopped for a !o!ent to catch his breath as tears strea!ed down his face. Across the road he saw a phone bo@ then realised he had no !oney to !ake a call. )e could only hope that +i9 would accept a re"erse charge call. <e"erishly dialling the re"erse charge nu!ber (a!ie took a deep breath as he tried to cal! hi!self then he heard +i9*s "oice. 3#*! sorry +i94please don*t hang up on !e4# need help45 There was a !o!ents silence. 3?here are you (a!ie65 )e looked at the address in the phone bo@. 30ro"eha!pton Road45 3Stay there (a!ie #*ll be with you as soon as # can5 3Thank you5 (a!ie !anaged to gasp before collapsing to the floor. )e

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put his head in his hands and sobbed uncontrollably he felt like he was losing his grip on reality i!ages kept flashing in and out of his !ind4de!onic "isions. )e had no idea how long he*d been there when the door of the phone bo@ opened and he looked up to see +i9 holding out her hand. )e held it tightly as she !anaged to get hi! to his feet. 3# a! so sorry +i9 so sorry5 3Alright cal! down # don*t know what #sabella did to you but #*! assu!ing that she had you drugged and that*s why you4well4anyway that*s what # told !y father5 +i9 helped (a!ie o"er to the car he*d forgotten about the Dini it was +i9*s pride and .oy. She struggled to get hi! into the passenger seat but finally !anaged to fasten his seat belt before running round to the dri"ers side. 3# thought we*d go to the park (a!ie we can talk there without being disturbed #*! not sure !y father wants to see you right now5 All (a!ie could do was nod as +i9 turned the car round and headed back into the city. ?hen they got to the park (a!ie !anaged to get out of the Dini and waited while +i9 picked up a bag off the back seat. 3-icnic5 She looked at (a!ie and s!iled. 3# guess you*"e not eaten for a while5 <ollowing +i9 o"er to a bench (a!ie sat down and sighed deeply. ,pening the bag +i9 took out a plastic bo@ and
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handed it to (a!ie. 3#t*s ,> it*s 'uiche not one of (oe*s pies=5 (a!ie !anaged a weak laugh before starting to de"our the 'uiche. 3?hoa steady on or you*ll be bringing it up faster than you*re eating it45 +i9 passed (a!ie a bottle of water and watched hi! closely he looked like he*d been to hell and back. 3So did #sabella drug you65 (a!ie finished the last !outhful of 'uiche and shook his head. 3?orse !uch worse and #*! not sure you*re going to belie"e !e # hardly belie"e it !yself5 3?hen you*re ready #*! listening5 Eeciding to start fro! the beginning and not lea"e out any details howe"er painful (a!ie took a deep breath and started to tell +i9 what had happened to hi!. As he related all the e"ents that had taken place +i9*s eyes grew wider and wider she sat with her hand o"er her !outh in shock. ?hen he*d finished (a!ie took a long swig of water and leaned back waiting for +i9*s response it took her a !o!ent to gather her thoughts. 3# don*t know what to say (a!ie it*s difficult for !e to understand # can*t belie"e what went on at the grange sounds like the ru!ours weren*t far fro! the truth5 3But you understand why # attacked you and that # couldn*t stop !yself65 3?ell if what you say about being a de!on is true4yes #

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suppose it does !ake sense5 3;ou don*t think # a! a de!on65 3(a!ie #*"e known you for se"eral years and #*"e ne"er seen any sign of you being e"il4until the other night5 3Eo you think #*! !entally ill and it*s all in !y i!agination65 3# didn*t say that (a!ie there*s too !any other people in"ol"ed you can*t all be !ad5 (a!ie s!iled. 3So what do # do65 3<ind so!ebody to talk to who knows about de!ons !aybe65 3But they can only know what they*"e read about de!ons # need so!eone who truly understands their nature. )unter tells !e that #sabella has her own agenda but # suspect so does )unter. # feel like #*! being torn apart +i9 # know what # feel when the de!on wakes up and it scares !e # can*t go on like this for the rest of !y life5 3,> #*! going to !ake a really stupid suggestion if you are a de!on why not allow the transfor!ation to happen it !ight gi"e you peace of !ind and it will certainly gi"e you the power to deal with #sabella and )unter4hopefully45 3#*! e"en !ore scared of what #*ll beco!e if # do especially after what # did to you45 3(a!ie !aybe it*s true what you*"e been told that by beco!ing a de!on you*ll be able to control your45 +i9 bit her lip ner"ously not daring to say the words. 3Dy carnal desires4and they da!n well need controlling
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it*s bad enough feeling that kind of se@ual power but afterwards hea"ing !y guts out is really taking its toll on !e5 +i9 took hold of (a!ie*s hand. 3#*ll stand by you # know it*s not going to be easy4but #*ll do whate"er # can to help5 ?ith +i9 holding his hand tightly (a!ie started to feel his de!on stir he pulled his hand away. 3;ou*d better go +i94you know # can*t control !yself5 3(a!ie # need to know are you prepared to beco!e fully de!on65 (a!ie growled under his breath. 3# don*t think # truly ha"e a choice5 3Then let !e help you when did you first start to feel the de!onic urges65 3#*! not sure there has always been so!ething there dri"ing !y creati"ity. But # guess it wasn*t until # !o"ed into the flat abo"e the caf/ that # started to notice it5 3#nteresting considering #sabella*s interest in the area you ha"e to wonder if there isn*t so!ething there that triggered it does that !ake sense65 3-erfectly so what are you proposing65 3Eo you trust !e (a!ie65 3# think you know the answer to that +i9 yes # do5 3Then let*s go to the flat that*s where it all started4#*"e got an idea .ust do as # tell you ,>65 3Alright5 (a!ie followed +i9 back to the car.

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3)ow are we going to get into the flat the builders will be there it will take so!e e@plaining5 3#t*s starting to get dark (a!ie the builders will ha"e already left and #*! sure we can fatho! out how to pick a lock5 +i9 grinned at (a!ie as she dro"e towards the city.

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By the ti!e they arri"ed at the caf/ (a!ie was barely able to keep control of hi!self. +i9 took a torch out of the boot and headed down the alleyway to the back of the caf/ she tried the door in the "ain hope it had been left unlocked. 3Stand back +i95 She !o"ed out of the way as (a!ie hea"ed his shoulder against the door it offered little resistance and flew open. 30o upstairs (a!ie #*ll secure the door5 +i9 !anaged to find a piece of wood closing the door she wedged it under the handle then ran upstairs to find (a!ie. )e was standing in the !iddle of the roo! which was partially illu!inated by the street light outside. +ooking round +i9 saw (a!ie*s old !etal bed and a tattered !attress. She ru!!aged around and e"entually found so!e rope and turned to (a!ie. 30et undressed and lie down5 3+i9 this is no ti!e to play ga!es with !e you know what danger you are in5 3(ust do as # tell you now before you lose total control5

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(a!ie got undressed knowing that +i9 was right as he lay down on the bed he was already getting an erection. 3# was ne"er "ery good at tying knots # hope this works5 +i9 tied (a!ie*s feet then his hands to the !etal fra!e of the bed. 3Eo you know what you*re doing +i965 She heard the change in his "oice knowing the de!on was close to breaking through. 3$ot e@actly but #*"e watched a lot of horror !o"ies=5 She laughed as !uch to cal! her ner"es as to break the tension that was building in the roo!. (a!ie tugged on the ropes and started growling +i9 looked at hi! lying there naked and helpless and for a !o!ent wasn*t sure what to do ne@t. As (a!ie*s body started to grow and his !uscles e@panded so did his erection in that !o!ent +i9 knew what she had to do. +i9 started to get undressed hoping that the ropes would hold (a!ie down. $ot so long ago she would ha"e been terrified at the prospect but now she understood that it was only by satisfying (a!ie*s carnal desires that the de!on would be free. 3?hat the fuck are you doing +i965 3)elping you hopefully5 As +i9 cli!bed on to the bed (a!ie fought to break free he growled and snarled ferociously. Slowly lowering herself on to (a!ie*s !assi"e erection +i9 gasped with pain4then pleasure. The feeling of hi! inside her as he lay there tied to the bed wasn*t so!ething she had e@pected to !ake her feel
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aroused. (a!ie*s guttural groans were deep and !enacing he pulled at the ropes in an atte!pt to break free. +i9 rhyth!ically slid up and down gyrating her hips as she got increasingly e@cited. She looked at (a!ie and al!ost fro9e as she saw his eyes starting to bla9e red. +i9 realised he was starting to change and obli"ious to the danger she !ight be in she increased her rhyth!. ?ith a terrifying roar (a!ie freed his hands sat up and grabbed hold of +i9 pulling her down hard and causing her to gasp for breath. 3(a!ie4please45 )e could sense her e@cite!ent and as a burst of power surged through his body he broke free of the ropes tying his feet down. )olding +i9 tightly (a!ie got to his feet and turning round laid her back down on the bed. -lacing her ankles on his shoulders (a!ie held on to her hips and started thrusting deeper and harder. +i9 could sense that (a!ie was not so "iolent and out of control she rela@ed and pushed herself against hi!. +ooking up into his bla9ing red eyes she knew she no longer feared the de!on that he*d beco!e. (a!ie see!ed to sense what she was feeling and slowed down slightly and started to tease +i9 by withdrawing slightly. 3(a!ie4oh da!n4please4harder again4now45 ?ith one powerful thrust (a!ie orgas!ed shooting his hot li'uid deep into +i9 who screa!ed as she cli!a@ed her !ind felt like it was going to e@plode. (a!ie leaned back

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letting +i9*s legs fall on to the bed then he gently laid down ne@t to her and pulled her to hi!. Resting her head on his chest +i9 lay there in his ar!s in a state of absolute bliss. (a!ie tenderly stroked +i9*s hair he knew he*d finally found peace of !ind. The !o!ent of tenderness was shattered by the sound of crashing fro! downstairs. 3?hat the45 +i9 rolled off (a!ie as he got off the bed and drew hi!self up to his full si9e. A figure appeared in the doorway +i9 reached down for her clothes to co"er herself as #sabella walked o"er to the foot of the bed. 3So the bitch has helped you beco!e a de!on5 (a!ie growled at #sabella. 3The only bitch in here is you and yes # a! a de!on now and you no longer ha"e control o"er !e5 3?e*ll see about that5 #sabella undid her coat and dropped it on the floor she was naked underneath and instantly started to transfor! into her de!on self. +i9 stared in horror as #sabella turned to face (a!ie the at!osphere in the roo! was literally electric as the power fro! both (a!ie and #sabella crackled and sparked. Then suddenly a loud "oice boo!ed around the roo!. 3Stop right there #sabella5 She swung round to see )unter in de!on for! standing in the doorway. 3This is none of your business )unter (a!ie belongs to !e # found hi! first !y clai! is legiti!ate5
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3But you were not responsible for his transfor!ation therefore your clai! is in"alid. Eon*t !ake !e in"oke !y powers as a guardian lea"e now while you still can5 #sabella snarled and spat at )unter. 3Ea!n you one day #*ll a!ass enough power to wipe you fro! the face of the Carth then #*ll rightfully take !y place as guardian5 Slowly #sabella changed back to her nor!al self wrapped her coat around her and stor!ed past )unter growling at hi! under her breath. )unter walked o"er to (a!ie glancing at +i9 briefly who was staring at hi! wideFeyed. 3+i9 is a good wo!an (a!ie you ha"e a lot to thank her for. As guardian # acknowledge you as a de!on and as a su!!oner5 3?hat happens now65 3;ou will need to rest and take so!e ti!e to ad.ust then # suggest you two talk about your future together5 3And what about !y role as su!!oner65 3All in good ti!e (a!ie5 ?ithout saying another word )unter turned and left the roo!. (a!ie went o"er to the window he saw #sabella walking towards her car then watched as )unter with Sa!uel by his side walked o"er to his. 3#s it all o"er (a!ie65 )e walked o"er to the bed and sat down. 3#t would appear so # guess #*d better transfor! too45 +i9 put her hand on (a!ie*s ar!.

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3Stay like you are for a while longer4it e@cites !e5 3Are you sure you*"e not got a de!on hidden away65 +i9 s!iled. 3#*! not sure would you like to help !e look for it65 (a!ie lay down and took +i9 in his ar!s. 3#t !ight take !e a long ti!e there are a lot of places to search5 3?e*"e got all night5

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+i9 woke up lying in (a!ie*s ar!s at so!e point during the night he*d transfor!ed to his nor!al self. She looked up at hi! as he opened his eyes and s!iled at her. 3(a!ie # need to ask you so!ething4now you*re a de!on are you i!!ortal65 3;es # a!5 3,h5 3+i9 you*re only twentyFtwo if you want to stay with !e we*"e got plenty of years left together5 3,f course # want to stay with you but #*ll grow old while you stay per!anently twentyFsi@45 3#t won*t !ake !e lo"e you any less5 +i9 sighed. 3#t scares !e (a!ie5 3+et*s worry about the future when it happens and .ust en.oy the present4,>65 +i9 nodded. 3So what are we going to do now neither of us ha"e got a .ob # hope # can persuade !y father to let you li"e with us

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but it*s not going to be easy5 (a!ie laughed. 3# don*t think it*s a!using (a!ie5 3Sorry it was .ust the thought of being an une!ployed de!on # was wondering what #*d put on .ob application for!s=5 3)!! # can see how that !ight put off prospecti"e e!ployers. ?ell # think we*d better get out of here before the builders arri"e45 +i9 got off the bed and started to get dressed (a!ie watched her closely. 3;ou are beautiful +i9 )unter was right # ha"e a lot to thank you for5 3;ou can thank !e later now hurry up and get dressed5 ,nce both of the! were dressed they 'uickly left the flat and ran down the alleyway to the car. 3,h da!n looks like # got a ticket5 +i9 picked up the en"elope fro! under the windscreen wiper and looked at it closely. 3#t*s addressed to you5 She handed it o"er to (a!ie who opened it to find a letter and a bunch of keys. 3,h45 3#s there a proble!65 3$o +i9 not e@actly a proble! !ore like a bloody shock it*s fro! )unter4do you know where Sheringbourne is65 3;es it*s about ten !iles south of the city why65 3Then that*s where we heading don*t ask # want it to be a
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surprise5 3,>4a good one # hope as it in"ol"es )unter5 (a!ie grinned as he got into the car. 3#t*s a good one5 As they dro"e out of the city +i9 kept glancing across at (a!ie who was still grinning. 3;ou look like a Cheshire cat45 3So will you soon5 3Then #*d better get us there as 'uickly as # can5 +i9 put her foot down.

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Slowing down as they approached Sheringbourne +i9 bought the car to a halt. 3,> now where65 3There should be a right turning .ust through the "illage45 Checking the rear "iew !irror +i9 dro"e along the road until she found the right turning. 3The one that says Kpri"ate road*65 3;es5 Turning into the road +i9 dro"e for about half a !ile until they ca!e to a large 7ictorian rectory. 3?e*"e co!e to see the "icar65 (a!ie laughed. 3That could be difficult he*s been dead for years pull up outside5 +i9 barely had chance to park the car before (a!ie .u!ped out. She walked round the car and stared at the rectory. 3$ow are you going to tell !e what is going on65 (a!ie handed her the letter +i9 started to read it out loud.

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(a!ie as a guardian it is !y responsibility to pro"ide you with all you need to fulfil your role as su!!oner. To this effect the property known as Sheringbourne Rectory now belongs to you but understand it cannot be sold it is to be used as your ho!e.

You also inherit the wealth that previous summoners accumulated, I have been investing it wisely over the years and this is now quite a substantial sum of money I have enclosed the bank details in a separate letter I have also purchased a car which you will find in the garage, if this model isn!t to your taste, then you are at liberty to replace it I sincerely hope that once you are settled, you will invite me to your home so we can discuss what your role entails As a guardian, it is also my responsibility to guide you "hough of course you are free to ignore my advice is you so choose #lease contact me if you have any questions $espectfully yours Hunter Stol%enburg
30ood grief4all this is yours65 3#t would appear so4will you !o"e in with !e +i9 # can*t !anage all this without you5
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3,h so you want !e to be your personal !aid now do you65 +i9 feigned indignation. 3,nly if you wear one of those outfits45 +i9 thu!ped (a!ie*s ar!. 3;ou de!ons only ha"e a one track !ind=5 They both laughed then (a!ie took +i9 in his ar!s and kissed her. 3So do # take that as a yes65 3Show !e what car )unter has gi"en you and #*ll let you know5 +i9 grinned as (a!ie took her hand and went o"er to the garage. 1nlocking the doors (a!ie pulled the! open +i9 stared at the black BD? with it*s tinted windows. 3,h !y god that is top of the range !akes !y Dini look 'uite pathetic45 3# need a dri"er there is no way #*! dri"ing that4# think we*ll stick to your Dini for now5 3#*ll be your dri"er45 3$o +i9 #*! being serious we not only need a dri"er but !ore help to run this place. And as a su!!oner # guess that recruiting will be !y responsibility5 3,> well the answer is yes # will !o"e in with you4now can we look round the house65 (a!ie closed the garage doors and walked o"er to the house. )e had to try se"eral keys before he found the one that opened the door. +i9 followed hi! inside and shi"ered (a!ie turned round.
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3Cold65 3$o .ust so!ething about this place gi"es !e the creeps5 3#t will get better once we*"e got a few de!ons li"ing here5 3?ell #*! sure that will !ake !e sleep easier at night5 3They won*t har! you +i9 but you ha"e to agree we need the! for security apart fro! helping around the house. # so!ehow don*t think #sabella will gi"e up on !e that easily5 (a!ie turned to walk down the hall and saw his suitcase he picked it up and s!iled. 3At least )unter was kind enough to return all !y worldly possessions4so let*s ha"e a look around our new ho!e5 (a!ie and +i9 checked out the ground floor first. There was a study a for!al reception roo! a dining roo! and the kitchen. 1pstairs there was the !aster bedroo! and four other bedroo!s and the attic had been con"erted into three bedsits. ?hen they got back downstairs (a!ie turned to +i9. 3Eo you appro"e65 3;es # presu!e )unter arranged for the decoration and furniture he*s got good taste5 3#t*s si!ilar in style to his own ho!e does it still gi"e you the creeps65 3$ot so !uch #*ll get used to it. $ow #*d better go and talk to !y father and collect !y belongings. ?hat are you planning to do65 3Take a shower get changed and eat so!ething. Then #*d better see about doing so!e su!!oning5 3# ha"en*t 'uite figured out what that in"ol"es5

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3De neither #*ll gi"e )unter a call before # do anything stupid don*t worry5 +i9 put her ar!s around (a!ie*s neck and kissed hi!. 3# ne"er i!agined things would turn out like this li"ing in a rectory with a de!on4not sure what to tell !y father5 3Tell hi! that the nasty people who drugged !e found out # was due to co!e into an inheritance and wanted the !oney5 30uess that would sound plausible enough. # won*t be long4are you sure # can*t take the BD?65 3;ou*re not insured to dri"e it5 3,h you*"e got a demon!s only policy ha"e you65 (a!ie slapped +i9*s backside playfully. 30et out of here=5 +i9 laughed as opened the front door. 3)ere4you !ight need this5 She turned round as (a!ie ga"e her a key. 3Thanks #*ll be back in a few hours5

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After +i9 had left (a!ie ran upstairs and had a shower. ,pening his suitcase to find so!e clean clothes he found a !obile phone KHunter thinks of everything! he thought to hi!self. )e got dressed sat down on the bed and called )unter. 3(a!ie you found the !obile then65 3,b"iously thanks5 3?hat do you think of your new ho!e65 3-retty i!pressi"e now # .ust need so!e staff5 3?ell you*re the su!!oner45 3)ow e@actly does it work65 37isualise what kind of person you want to work for you their characteristics then sketch what you*re "isualising and once finished say% K# su!!on you to ser"e !e*5 3As si!ple as that # thought there*d be so!e sort of ritual5 3The sketching is the ritual5 3,h4# see45 3;ou do realise you ha"en*t co!pleted transfor!ation don*t you (a!ie65

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3But #*! a de!on what !ore is there65 3)ow can # put this so as not to offend you4,> putting it bluntly you*re still too (a!ie5 3;ou !ean #*! too nice65 3Dore or less once the transfor!ation is co!plete you*ll be !ore de!on with a hu!an skin right now you*re still (a!ie with an inner de!on do you understand65 3;es and #*! not sure # like the sound of it # thought this is how # would be45 3(a!ie de!ons don*t go around wearing .eans and tFshirts we wear our power with pride in the way we dress the way we act4and you being a su!!oner as well45 30uess # need to buy so!e Ar!ani suits then45 3-lease not Ar!ani that !ight be #sabella*s style but it*s not yours. ,nce your transfor!ation is co!plete you*ll know how to dress. #s +i9 with you65 3$o she*s gone to collect her belongings why65 3?ill she be long65 3#*"e no idea about an hour or so probably5 3#*! on !y way you*re going to need help when the final phase of transfor!ation kicks in45 3)unter4wait45 But he*d already ended the call (a!ie swore under his breath before heading downstairs. #n the kitchen (a!ie !ade hi!self a cup of coffee and thought about calling +i9 but then decided she*d be busy enough dealing with her father and packing. As (a!ie went
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through to the study he suddenly double up in pain again he felt the fa!iliar nausea and fought to keep his sto!ach under control. Staggering to a chair (a!ie sat down and took a deep breath. Slowly the pain eased as he leaned back and closed his eyes.

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(a!ie had no idea how long he*d been asleep but by the sound of the banging on the front door so!eone had been trying to get his attention for a while. 3,> #*! on !y way5 Stepping out into the hall (a!ie*s head started to spin he !anaged to open the front door before collapsing to his knees. +ooking up he saw )unter leaning against the door fra!e. 3;ou are still ali"e then5 3Barely45 )elping (a!ie to his feet )unter took hi! through to the study and sat hi! in a chair. 3+ooks like # arri"ed .ust in ti!e5 (a!ie growled and snarled. 3?hat the fuck is going on45 3<inal part of your transfor!ation (a!ie this is where your de!on takes control5 3?hat do # need to do65 30et undressed5 3+ike hell not with you here #*ll wait until +i9 gets back5

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3;ou !isunderstand !e (a!ie if # wanted to satiate !y carnal desires #*d tear your fucking clothes off5 As the pain got worse (a!ie !anaged to get to his feet and slowly got undressed growling under his breath. )e*d only .ust re!o"ed his .eans when the transfor!ation to de!on began. (a!ie stretched and fle@ed his !uscles as the !anifestation continued until finally with a deep growl he was a de!on. (a!ie could sense al!ost s!ell )unter*s arousal e"ery part of his being felt ali"e all his senses tingled and crackled with power. $ow !ore than e"er he needed +i9 he was al!ost in agony fro! the lust that was burning through hi!. )unter started to get undressed (a!ie sneered at hi!. 3Eon*t e"en think about it guardian5 3# a! only going to transfor! (a!ie45 3;ou co!e anywhere near !e and #*ll tear you apart5 )unter*s laugh was cold and chillingly. 3The last de!on to threaten !e like that ended up as sushi4tasted better than # e@pected actually45 As soon as )unter had taken his clothes off he 'uickly transfor!ed and stood in front of (a!ie. 3Care to threaten !e again65 (a!ie bared his teeth. 3<ace the facts (a!ie your lust is burning you up you need release to co!plete the transfor!ation4it !ight be hours before +i9 is back4let !e help you45 3<uck you )unter4and no # don*t want to understood65 3# wasn*t asking you to # was .ust going to help you45

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)unter reached out to grab (a!ie*s !assi"e erection but he took a step back. 3;ou*ll be the one who*s fucking sushi if you so !uch as lay a finger on !e5 3# can*t say #*"e tried fucking it45 )unter threw back his head and roared with laughter. (a!ie took a step back and groaned he felt like he was going to e@plode with the desire that was building up in hi! but he was deter!ined not to gi"e )unter the pleasure of helping. 3#t*s getting harder isn*t it (a!ie65 3<uck off5 )earing (a!ie*s groaning intensifying )unter !o"ed a step closer. 3;our balls are tense .ust yearning for the release4don*t fight it (a!ie45 (a!ie held on to the back of the chair for support his "ision started to blur. )unter sat down in the chair and took hold of (a!ie*s erection guiding hi! round to stand in front of hi!. 3$o4# will not let you45 (a!ie staggered backwards and fell onto the sofa. )unter knelt down by (a!ie*s side and without saying a word started to slide his hand up and down (a!ie*s erection. 3,h4fuck45 (a!ie !oaned as his body responded to )unter*s touch then his back arched as he felt )unter !outh slowly closing around his throbbing erection. <eeling the war!th of )unter*s !outh dro"e (a!ie into a state of e@tre!e ecstasy.
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3<ucking choke on this you bastard5 (a!ie thrust deep into )unter*s throat growling and panting like a wild ani!al. )e didn*t hear the door open or +i9 walk into the roo!. Then he looked up and saw her stood staring in horror with her hand o"er her !outh to stop herself fro! screa!ing. )e was too close to cli!a@ing to stop with one last deep thrust (a!ie e@ploded with such power that +i9 had to take a step back she collapsed into the chair. )unter slowly stood up and turned to face her licking his lips. 3That was so sweet45 +i9 couldn*t reply she .ust sat with her !outh open staring wideFeyed at )unter. ?hen (a!ie got to his feet he put his hand on )unter*s shoulder as he looked down at +i9. 3$ow it*s your turn5 3;ou keep away fro! !e don*t you dare touch !e (a!ie #*! warning you4you*re sick4both of you are sick45 (a!ie held on to +i9*s wrist and dragged her to her feet. 3Eon*t argue with !e bitch5 )e swung +i9 against )unter who held on to her ar!s as she struggled to break free. 3:uite feisty this one4would you like !e to lea"e you to your pleasure (a!ie65 3As a guardian it would be disrespectful of !e not to share !y pleasure with you5 +i9 was still struggling to break free. 3+et !e go4# refuse to allow either of you to touch !e45

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(a!ie held on to +i9*s face and stared into her eyes. 3Tell !e there is nothing that you desire !ore than pleasuring !yself and )unter tell !e +i945 +i9 tried to look away but (a!ie forced her to look at hi!. 3# feel your e@cite!ent +i9 the thought of being fucked by two de!ons is your wildest fantasy co!e true isn*t it65 3(a!ie please don*t do this to !e4please4# don*t want to be a part of this45 3So after agreeing to li"e with !e you*"e now changed your !ind65 +i9 started to cry. 3#t*s only your de!on talking4tell )unter to lea"e and transfor! to your true self4e"erything will be alright45 3This is !y true self +i9 if you don*t want to li"e with !e as # a!4then go45 )unter released his grip on +i9 she staggered forward then turned to face (a!ie. 3# don*t understand why you*re doing this (a!ie #*"e barely !o"ed in with you and now you*re telling !e to lea"e45 3Accept !e as the de!on # a! and you*re welco!e to stay5 3;ou !ean agree to let you4and hi!4fuck !e isn*t that what you*re really saying (a!ie65 3All #*! saying is that if you want to li"e with !e you ha"e to accept !y nature. Daybe !y carnal desires are too !uch for a !ere hu!an to handle45 +i9 stood there shaking not knowing what to do she was
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con"inced that once )unter had left and (a!ie had transfor!ed back to his nor!al self e"erything would be alright. 3# think she wants !e to lea"e (a!ie so you two can discuss this between yoursel"es5 )unter transfor!ed to his nor!al self and started to get dressed. 3Call !e if you need !e5 As )unter left the roo! (a!ie turned to +i9 and snarled at her baring his teeth. 3Are you satisfied now65 3$o #*! bloody confused # find you and )unter4 together4and # ha"e to wonder if it*s !e you want at all5 3)e was helping !e through the final part of !y transfor!ation nothing !ore than that hell # fought hi! all the way but the pain of desire was o"erwhel!ing5 3#t looked like you were en.oying it to !e5 3#t wasn*t as unpleasant as # thought it would be actually5 +i9 stared at hi! in shock. 3#f that is the way you feel then # really don*t ha"e a part in your life do #65 (a!ie held on to +i9*s hand. 3Can*t you accept !e as # a!65 3#*! not sure # can especially if you and )unter are going to45 +i9 shuddered. 3#*! sorry # know # said #*d help you it*s not easy for !e to accept you as a de!on as it is and to be honest your carnal

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desires are beginning to scare the life out of !e. This is !ore than # can deal with5 3So you*re going to gi"e up on !e65 +i9 took a deep breath. 3;es #*! sorry # guess # rushed things # didn*t realise you*d change so !uch. Daybe when #*"e had so!eti!e to think things through45 3Take as !uch ti!e as you like45 +i9 didn*t sense any sadness in (a!ie*s "oice she realised that he really didn*t care if she left. (a!ie watched as +i9 walked out of the study realising that so!ehow during his final transfor!ation any feelings he had towards her had died.

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(a!ie waited for a while before transfor!ing back to his hu!an self then he got dressed. )e was .ust fastening his shirt when there was a knock on the door. <or so!e reason all his senses went on high alert. Cautiously he walked down the hall and opened the door to find a young !an stood there with a shock of blond hair and dressed in biker leathers. )e held out his hand to (a!ie. 3#*! Rik Lalenski4)unter said as it !ight be a while before you got around to su!!oning a de!on #*d better get !y ass round here and offer !y ser"ices5 (a!ie shook Rik*s hand and looked at hi! closely. 3)e ne"er told !e he was sending so!eone round5 3Shit sorry4hang on45 Rik took a cru!pled piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to (a!ie who straightened it out and began to read. 3# see so you can cook and dri"e4though not at the sa!e ti!e # presu!e65 Rik laughed. 3So will # be acceptable you can always replace !e later if

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you want45 3#*"e got so !uch to sort out it could be a long while before # think of replacing you if at all4are you prepared to stay if # so choose65 3Sure not e"ery de!on gets the chance to work for the su!!oner5 3#*ll show you to your roo! then you can collect your belongings45 3#*"e got e"erything # own on the back of the bike since # got kicked out of !y flat #*"e been staying with )unter5 3# don*t re!e!ber seeing you there5 3# stayed in the flat abo"e the garage # wasn*t going to stay in the house not with )unter and his reputation5 3Reputation65 3)is carnal desires4surely you !ust know what he*s like # !ean #*! not against it # .ust don*t fancy )unter that*s all5 (a!ie laughed then !otioned to Rik to follow hi! upstairs to the attic. 3There are three bedsits up here choose whiche"er one you prefer5 Rik looked in each roo! then walked into the third. 3#*ll take this one nice "iew o"er the gardens5 3,h da!n ha"en*t e"en seen the gardens yet e"erything happened so fast5 3)unter told !e that your girlfriend is planning on li"ing here with you65 (a!ie snarled at Rik.
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3?as4she left5 3Sorry # didn*t realise # won*t ask any !ore 'uestions5 30ood idea #*d hate to replace you so soon. $ow if you want to settle in #*ll be in the study5 (a!ie turned and headed back downstairs.

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?hen (a!ie got to the study he went o"er to the drinks cabinet and took out a glass and a bottle of whisky. 3#t wasn*t the whisky that !ade !e sick5 S!iling to hi!self he poured hi!self a large shot. )e walked o"er to the desk and sat down. ,pening the letter that )unter had gi"en hi! (a!ie looked at the details for the bank account. #n the !orning he*d go and pick up his card and do so!e shopping )unter was right .eans were not suitable attire for a de!on4and neither was the na!e (a!ie. There was a brief knock on the door before Rik walked into the roo!. 3(a!ie #*! going to cook so!e dinner if45 3The na!e is (a!es5 3#*! sorry65 Rik looked confused. 3Dy na!e is (a!es # used to prefer (a!ie because it didn*t sound so for!al but # think it is ti!e for for!ality don*t you65 3# ha"e to ad!it (a!es sounds !ore powerful and

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co!!ands respect. So (a!es4dinner65 3#*ll .ust stick to the whisky for now4in the !orning we*re going to the city # ha"e to go to the bank and get so!e new clothes. #*d appreciate your input for the latter #*"e li"ed in .eans and tFshirts for so long45 3$ot a proble! # know where )unter buys his outfits the owner is a de!on he*s got great taste5 3#nteresting45 3?hy65 3# .ust assu!ed that e"eryone is a hu!an now # find that a de!on has his own store4and # presu!e there are others65 3A lot !ore than you realise (a!es if another de!on war was to start4well let*s .ust say the phrase Khell on earth* would be 'uite appropriate5 3)ow !any wars ha"e there been65 3:uite a few but that was a long ti!e ago )unter has !aintained the peace for a good hundred years now. But # know the situation between hi! and #sabella is 'uite tense45 3$ow that*s one bitch #*d like to personally kill5 3;ou*"e !et her65 3Eidn*t )unter tell you !y background65 3$o he .ust said you*d recently gone through transfor!ation and you were the su!!oner5 3?ell #sabella got to !e first45 3Shit4did she help you through transfor!ation65 3$o it was +i9 who helped5 3;our girlfriend who45 3;es5

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3That*s rare a hu!an knowing what to do4# know # said # wasn*t going to ask any 'uestions but45 3;ou want to know why she left. ?ell #*ll tell you )unter helped !e through the last phase4you can i!agine how well +i9 walked in on us and freaked out. As it dawned on her that # was going to be the cute adorable person she once knew she 'uit. Cnd of story ,>65 3;eah sure4#*d better go and cook dinner5 Rik hurriedly left the study. (a!es finished his whiskey and decided to go and check out the garden. As he walked through the kitchen he glanced at Rik who was busy preparing dinner. 3Eon*t suppose you know anything about gardening65 Rik turned round. 3$ot a clue5 (a!es opened the back door and stepped outside looking around he guessed that the garden was about an acre in si9e !ainly lawn and for!al bedding. There was a large building at the far end and with an increasing sense of e@cite!ent he walked down the path towards it. Standing outside the building (a!es realised it had once been used as a su!!erhouse but now was in desperate need of repair. The door was hanging off the hinges !o"ing it to out of the way he went inside and took a deep breath. 3-erfect4absolutely fucking perfect5 (a!es returned to the house and walked into the kitchen. 3Rik4what are your E#; skills like65
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3Al!ost as good as !y dri"ing and cooking4why65 30ot an urgent pro.ect for you that building at the botto! of the garden # want to turn it into !y studio. There*s 'uite a bit of work needs doing # want skylights put in the roof for !a@i!u! light and45 Rik held up his hand. 3(a!es lea"e it with !e # know e@actly what you want5 30ood well we*ll !ake an early start in the !orning4 da!n # can*t belie"e #sabella*s "ision is actually going to co!e true45 3?hat "ision65 3,ne of her atte!pts to persuade !e to stay was to show !e a "ision of what !y future would be. # owned !y own gallery # was a successful painter not the co!ic strips #*"e drawn in the past these were stunning works of art45 3And you*"e .ust realised that you can still ha"e your drea! without #sabella45 3)ell yes45 3# think #*ll .ust focus on dinner5 (a!es walked o"er to Rik and slipped his ar! around his waist. 3#s !y enthusias! getting you e@cited65 3+ike you need to ask5 (a!es laughed and let Rik go. 3#*! going to ha"e an early night need so!e ti!e to think through all that&s happened #*ll see you in the !orning5 ?ith that (a!es headed upstairs lea"ing Rik to his cooking.

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(a!es woke up to the s!ell of breakfast cooking he rolled o"er and looked at the clock it was barely se"en. 3?hat the hell45 )e got out of bed pulled his bath robe on and ran downstairs to the kitchen. 3Rik45 )e turned round. 3Dorning (a!es ready for breakfast65 3;ou*re bloody eager aren*t you65 3;ou were the one that said we needed an early start5 (a!es sat down at the table. 3A cup of coffee will be fine for !e5 3;ou*re eating breakfast # don*t care if you are the su!!oner # won*t take no for an answer you didn*t eat anything last night so45 3Eid )unter tell you to act like !y bloody !other65 Rik laughed. 3(ust doing !y .ob4do you want !e to wear a frilly apron65

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(a!es groaned at the thought. 3Alright #*ll eat breakfast .ust re!e!ber you*re not irreplaceable5 3;ou !ight change your !ind when you*"e tried !y cooking5 ,nce Rik had finished cooking he ser"ed (a!es his breakfast along with a cup of coffee. Then sat down to eat his own. (a!es looked up at hi!. 3This is good4ha"e you e"er had sushi65 3$ot for breakfast5 (a!es laughed so !uch he nearly choked. 3Bad .oke courtesy of )unter ask hi! about it ne@t ti!e you speak to hi!4which # presu!e won*t be long5 3#nferring what65 3#*! not fucking stupid # know )unter told you to keep an eye on !e. So keep watching it*s going to be fun5 Rik shifted unco!fortably in his seat. 3Eidn*t think you*d be that percepti"e so soon5 3?ho says # a! you*re .ust not good at co"ering your intent5 (a!es finished his breakfast and got to his feet. 3Be ready to lea"e in fifteen !inutes5 )e turned and walked out of the kitchen. #t was nearly half an hour before (a!es was ready to lea"e he took a sadistic pleasure in !aking Rik wait. 3Serves him right for being Hunter!s lap dog5 )e said to hi!self.

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(a!es left the rectory to find Rik waiting by the side of the BD? he cli!bed into the back without saying a word. As Rik dro"e towards the !ain road he glanced at (a!es in the rear "iew !irror. 3;ou do realise the bank won*t be open yet65 (a!es took his !obile out of his pocket. 3?e*ll see about that5 (a!es put the !obile to his ear. 30ood !orning this is (a!es >eirnan #*ll be arri"ing at the bank in appro@i!ately thirty !inutes ha"e !y cards ready for !e5 )e nodded once he*d heard the reply then ended the call. 3The bank will be open you ha"e thirty !inutes to get us there5 3(a!es we*ll hit rush hour traffic45 3Then !ake sure we don*t5 Rik turned on to the !ain road and put his foot down in the rear "iew !irror he saw (a!es s!iling it sent a chill down his spine as he realised .ust how powerful the su!!oner truly was.

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They were approaching the city when Rik heard the fa!iliar sound of a police siren behind the! he groaned. 3#*! going to ha"e to pull o"er45 3<ine stay in the car #*ll deal with the!5 As Rik pulled o"er the police car stopped in front of the! (a!es got out and waited for the officer to walk o"er to hi!. )e looked at (a!es closely who s!iled at hi!. 3#s there a proble! officer65 The police officer took hold of (a!es* ar! and !o"ed hi! out of earshot of his colleague who was standing by the police car watching. 3;ou*re (a!es >eirnan aren*t you !y apologies for pulling you o"er but you !ust understand !y colleague would ha"e asked too !any 'uestions otherwise. And sadly #*ll ha"e to gi"e you a ticket .ust to go through the !otions5 3?hat*s your na!e65 30arry Redler5 3)ow the hell did you end up in the police force65 3<orce of habit o"er the centuries #*"e always been

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in"ol"ed in so!e kind of security45 3# bet you struggle not to kill so!e of the cri!inals you arrest5 0arry laughed. 3All the ti!e=5 3?ell #*! in need of so!e security4and a dri"er45 3?hat*s wrong with Rik65 3$othing apart fro! being too close to )unter for !y liking besides there*s plenty of other work to keep hi! occupied5 3?ell it would be an honour to work for the su!!oner you*re the !ain topic of con"ersation a!ongst the de!ons as is the sub.ect of war45 3That see!s ine"itable4so when can you start work65 3Theoretically # should gi"e a !onths notice but what the hell #*! willing to sacrifice !y wages so #*ll see you to!orrow65 3# shall ensure you*re suitably co!pensated for your loss #*! li"ing at the rectory in Sheringbourne4so #*ll see you around ten65 3$o proble!5 0arry 'uickly wrote out the speeding ticket and handed it to (a!es. 3(ust burn it #*ll !ake sure the paperwork doesn*t go anywhere see you to!orrow5 0arry turned and walked away as (a!es got back into the car. Rik turned round and stared at hi!. 3?hat was all that about65
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3#*"e got a new dri"er5 3Shit you*re replacing !e already65 3$o you can stay as cook and handy!an unless you want to lea"e45 3#s this because of )unter65 3?e*ll discuss it later .ust get !e to the bank5 Rik growled under his breath he didn*t know what (a!es was planning but it certainly appeared like a power !o"e to hi!. ?hen they arri"ed at the bank it was still half an hour to official opening ti!e. (a!es got out of the car walked o"er to the !ain entrance and pressed a button on the interco! to the side of the door. 3)ow can # help you65 3#t*s (a!es >eirnan45 3#*ll be with you right away sir5 Do!ents later a young wo!an opened the door and ushered (a!es inside. Rik waited until the door closed then took out his !obile. 3)unter there*s been a !a.or de"elop!ent. ?e got stopped for speeding looks like (a!es is getting a new dri"er40arry45 3)ang on one thing at a ti!e4(a!es65 3;eah he*s using his real na!e now decided he needs to be !ore for!al5 3#nteresting4so 0arry is lea"ing the force to work for (a!es4he*s taking su!!oning to a new le"el see!s to be

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able to achie"e it without his sketches. >eep a close eye on hi! Rik #*! not sure # like the way this is going5 3#*ll do !y best but he knows #*! reporting back to you5 3)ow65 3)e*s !ore powerful than you realise )unter his perception is al!ost chilling. Take 0arry as an e@a!ple he knew before he*d e"en got out of the car4actually now # co!e to think about it he did su!!on hi!. ?hen we left Sheringbourne he told !e to put !y foot down then sat there with a s!ile on his face as if he knew so!ething45 3?here is (a!es now65 3#n the bank picking up his cards5 3But the bank isn*t open yet45 3#t is for (a!es4actually he*s .ust co!ing out #*ll call later5 Rik 'uickly ended the call and put his !obile away seconds before (a!es got into the car. 3>eeping )unter up to date65 Rik turned round. 3<ucking hell (a!es # wish you*d stop doing that can*t # ha"e any bloody pri"acy65 3$ot when it in"ol"es spying on !e5 3)unter*s only concerned about your welfare it*s not spying he*s a da!n guardian it*s his .ob5 3?e*ll see4let*s go and buy so!e clothes5

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#t was nearly !idday when (a!es and Rik arri"ed back at the rectory they had barely spoken and the tension between the! was tangible. Rik took all the bags into the house and went upstairs (a!es* had bought hi! a selection of clothes too so Rik 'uickly hung the! up before heading downstairs. )e found (a!es waiting for hi!. 3?e*re going clubbing tonight # need so!e a!use!ent5 3Sounds good to !e # know a safe place to park the car there*s always a security guard on duty45 30ood now are you going to !ake a start on !y studio65 3;es #*ll take stock of what !aterials # need and get the! ordered5 Rik walked through to the kitchen knowing that (a!es was watching hi! intently. ?hen he got outside Rik took his !obile out of his pocket as he walked down the garden and thought about calling )unter but knew that would .ust infuriate (a!es e"en !ore. Because they were going out for the night Rik cooked

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dinner earlier than usual. (a!es barely ate anything then pushed his plate to one side and stood up. Rik stared at (a!es. 3Eo you think #*! trying to poison you or so!ething65 3# wouldn*t eat any of it if that were the case it*s not food # ha"e an appetite for4#*! going to get changed don*t keep !e waiting5 Rik growled under his breath as (a!es left the kitchen although strong and powerful Rik knew he wasn*t a !atch for the su!!oner his place was to ser"e and protect. After clearing up the plates Rik ran upstairs to get changed. (a!es was waiting in the hall i!patiently dressed all in black his appearance was !enacing and he knew it. )e looked up as Rik ca!e down the stairs without saying a word (a!es opened the front door and waited for Rik to fetch the car. As (a!es cli!bed into the back seat he glanced at Rik in the rear "iew !irror before settling back and closing his eyes. Rik slowly dro"e away fro! the rectory he couldn*t help but feel uneasy.

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Arri"ing at the car park Rik spoke briefly to the security guard before parking under one of the security lights. (a!es got out of the car and took a deep breath. 3# sense that the night is full of endless possibilities shall we go and see what pleasures we can find Rik65 <eeling a change in (a!es* !ood he s!iled as they headed towards the city centre. There was already 'uite a crowd of people outside the night club (a!es strode past the! to the front of the 'ueue. The bouncer grinned at hi! and opened the door Rik followed (a!es inside. ?alking o"er to the bar Rik ordered the drinks (a!es picked his glass up and turned round leaning back against the bar. )e 'uickly scanned the roo! then so!eone caught his eye. 3Cn.oy yourself Rik #*"e .ust found !y pleasure5 Rik tried to see where (a!es was heading but he disappeared into the thronging !ass of people. (a!es walked o"er to a wo!an stood on the edge of the dance floor talking to a young !an he slipped his ar!

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around her waist and whispered in her ear. 3#hoebe, I!m surprised to see you here5 She swung round and gasped with surprise. 3(a!ie45 )e put his finger to her lips. 3(a!es5 3?here*s +i965 3She de"eloped an allergy to !y de!on so are you going to introduce !e to your friend65 The young !an standing beside -hoebe backed off slightly when he saw (a!es staring at hi!. 3This is -aul he works for the catering co!pany45 (a!es raised his hand to stop -hoebe fro! saying any!ore. 3So -aul you*re lea"ing already65 3?ell4#45 -hoebe put his hand on -aul*s ar!. 3#*ll call you later ,>65 -aul nodded and 'uickly turned and walked away. -hoebe turned to face (a!es and placed her hand on his chest. 3# !uch prefer (a!es45 She took hold of his hand and led hi! on to the dance floor. -hoebe danced pro"ocati"ely in front of (a!es she heard hi! growling under his breath. Turning her back to hi! she pressed herself against his body (a!es held her hips tightly and kissed her neck. Then taking hold of -hoebe*s wrist (a!es led her off the
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dance floor and o"er to the s!all cloakroo! the assistant looked up in surprise. 3#*! sorry you*re not allowed in here5 (a!es took a fifty pound note out of his wallet and ga"e it to the young girl. 3# a! going into the back office and do not wish to be disturbed understood65 The assistant blinked and stared at the note. 3;es4yes of course4.no proble!5 -hoebe followed (a!es into the office he closed the door swearing under his breath that there wasn*t lock. 0rabbing a chair he wedged it under the handle then turned to -hoebe. 3-repare yourself for a pleasant surprise5 (a!es 'uickly took his clothes off -hoebe leaned back against the desk she could feel his e@cite!ent it sent shi"ers down her spine. She watched intently as (a!es transfor!ed licking her lips in anticipation. Taking -hoebe in his ar!s (a!es undid the 9ip of her dress slipped the straps off her shoulder and let it fall to the floor underneath -hoebe was only wearing the fli!siest of panties. To -hoebe*s surprise (a!es gently caressed her breasts and kissed her neck. #t was like electricity surging through her body she*d ne"er wanted hi! so badly. (a!es kissed -hoebe*s sto!ach and sliding her panties down flicked her clit with his tongue. 3,h4yes4oh45 -hoebe !oaned desperately wanting (a!es to slide his tongue insider her. She could feel herself getting wetter and

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wetter .ust being this close to (a!es was enough to gi"e her an orgas!. (a!es lifted -hoebe on to the edge of the desk then kneeling down in front of her licked and sucked her clit before sliding his tongue deep inside sending her body into spas!s of ecstasy. )er heart was pounding to the beat of the !usic which although !uffled was still loud enough. Slowly (a!es got to his feet and pressed his !assi"e erection against -hoebe*s clit. 3(a!es4please4oh45 -hoebe was breathing hea"ily panting and gasping then as (a!es started to slide deep into her she wrapped her legs around hi! and pulled hi! in tight. (a!es lifted -hoebe*s face up and pressed his lips against hers probing her !outh with his tongue. As (a!es thrusting beca!e harder and faster the kissing beca!e !ore intense. -hoebe started to feel lightFheated as if she was floating outside her body. She gripped (a!es tighter with her legs as in a bla9e of power he cli!a@ed sending -hoebe into a series of !ultiple orgas!s. She screa!ed and then suddenly e"erything went black.

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3-hoebe45 Slowly she opened her eyes and looked up at (a!es he was now dressed and was sitting on the floor cradling -hoebe in his ar!s. 3(a!es4what happened65 )er entire body felt like it was on fire. 3# !ade lo"e to you is that so strange65 3#t was !ore than that what ha"e you done to !e65 (a!es stood up and carefully helped -hoebe to her feet slipping his ar! around her waist to steady her. 3# ha"e done no !ore than !ake lo"e to you -hoebe now get dressed # think we*"e been in here long enough5 -hoebe still felt lightFheaded but she !anaged to get dressed leaning on (a!es for support. She glanced at the clock on the wall. 3?e*"e been in here three hours4but45 3# let you rest for a while45 )olding on to -hoebe*s ar! (a!es !o"ed the chair out of the way and led her out of the office. The assistant glanced at

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the! as they left. (a!es looked around for Rik and saw hi! dancing with a wo!an he walked o"er to hi! and put his hand on his shoulder Rik turned round and gasped. 3-hoebe45 (a!es looked at -hoebe then Rik. 3Eo you two know each other65 Rik nodded ner"ously. 3?ould you care to e@plain65 3#4# used to go to #sabella*s parties5 +etting -hoebe go (a!es glared at Rik. 3Eoes )unter know about this65 Rik shook his head. 3,utside now4-hoebe #*ll speak to you later5 Taking hold of Rik*s ar! (a!es dragged hi! out of the club and sla!!ed hi! against the wall. 3?hat else did you used to do for #sabella65 3(a!es please it was a long ti!e ago and45 +ooking closely at Rik in the street light (a!es suddenly realised why his senses had gone on alert when Rik had first arri"ed. 3;ou lying bastard # re!e!ber you now4the !otorcycle courier you used to sit in the caf/ for hours4dying your hair blonde was a neat trick5 C"en with his strength and power Rik knew there was no way to defend hi!self against (a!es. 3+ook #*! sorry # didn*t realise45 3;ou are the reason that #sabella found !e before )unter aren*t you65
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?ithout waiting for a reply (a!es dragged Rik in the direction of the car park. ?hen they got to the car (a!es put his hand around Rik*s throat. 30i"e !e the car keys5 Rik handed the! o"er and watched as (a!es opened the boot. 30et in5 3?hat are you going to do45 Before Rik could finish the 'uestion (a!es punched hi! in the face then picked hi! up and threw hi! in the boot sla!!ing the lid shut. 3Bastard5 (u!ping into the car (a!es dro"e off with a s'ueal of tyres. Acti"ating the satna" he wasn*t surprised to find )unter*s address progra!!ed in. 0rowling under his breath (a!es headed out of the city.

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?hen (a!es arri"ed as )unter*s ho!e he got out of the car and banged on the front door. C"entually it opened and Sa!uel appeared. 3#s )unter in65 3;es4he*s in the study5 (a!es opened the boot of the car and dragged Rik out da9ed he staggered slightly before (a!es twisted his ar! behind his back and led hi! inside. The study door opened and )unter stepped out into the hallway and stared at (a!es. 3#*"e brought you so!e fresh sushi5 ?alking past )unter (a!es pushed Rik into the study and threw hi! to the floor. )e kicked hi! in the ribs se"eral ti!es Rik groaned. 3(a!es # know you*re angry about Rik keeping an eye on you but45 (a!es turned round and snarled at )unter. 3?hat Rik has done is far worse than that4he*s the bastard who told #sabella about !e45 3?hat65

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3?e were in the night club # was with -hoebe Rik recognised her. ?hen # took hi! outside # realised that he used to hang out in the caf/ he had long black hair then4# sensed there was so!ething wrong when he turned up at the rectory but soon dis!issed it because of his association with you45 )unter bent down and pulled Rik to his feet. 3#s this true did you betray !e65 3#sabella seduced !e4you know how hard it is to resist her45 3Eon*t lie to !e Rik or # shall drag your death out for weeks instead of days4what did she offer you in return for your betrayal65 )unter 'uickly got undressed his rage intensified as he transfor!ed to de!on and stood in front of Rik snarling and baring his teeth. To (a!es* astonish!ent Rik started to whi!per as he backed away but )unter grabbed hi! by the throat and lifted hi! off his feet. 3Answer !e now5 Rik choked o"er the words. 3#f # found her the su!!oner #sabella would gi"e !e !ore power a place alongside her45 3;ou fucking idiot4do you really think she*d gi"e a de!on like you a place by her side65 3# did at first then # when # realised she*d lied to !e45 3;ou ca!e crawling back to !e5 )unter turned to face (a!es. 3This is going to be a "ery long and protracted death4

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you*re !ore than welco!e to stay45 (a!es sensed that )unter wanted to deal with Rik alone. 3# ha"e other business to attend to # shall lea"e you to your pleasure5 (a!es grinned before turning to lea"e the study as he closed the door he heard the sound of clothes being torn he knew e@actly what )unter was planning to do.

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As (a!es pulled up outside the rectory he saw a figure huddled in the doorway he i!!ediately knew who it was. (u!ping out of the car he ran o"er to the house. 3-hoebe45 She looked up at (a!es her face co"ered in blood her dress torn cuts and bruises e"erywhere. (a!es bent down and tenderly picked her up in his ar!s. 3?ho did this to you65 )e didn*t really need to ask he knew who was responsible. 3Scott ca!e to pick !e up fro! the nightclub4he knew #*d been with you4said #*d betrayed #sabella45 3+et*s get you inside5 )olding on to -hoebe tightly (a!es opened the door and carried her through to the study and laid her on the sofa. )e poured a large whisky and knelt down beside -hoebe. 3)ere45 0ently lifting -hoebe*s head he held the glass to her lips she took a few sips. 3?here*s Rik65

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3?ith )unter4though # doubt for !uch longer5 3)e*ll tear hi! apart5 3Eoes that bother you65 -hoebe sighed. 3There*s a lot of things # need to tell you (a!es but right now # need a bath45 -hoebe slowly sat up. 3(a!es would it be alright if # stayed here for a while .ust until # get !yself sorted out45 3# don*t think that would be a proble! #*ll show you to your roo!5 )olding on to -hoebe*s ar! to support her (a!es led her upstairs he stopped outside the roo! opposite his and opened the door. 3?e*ll ha"e to get you so!e new clothes in the !orning !y bedroo! is opposite you !ight be able to find a shirt or so!ething suitable5 3(a!es45 -hoebe put her hand on his ar!. 3?ould you !ind if we talked in the !orning45 3$ot at all you get so!e sleep we*ll talk to!orrow. 0oodnight -hoebe5 -hoebe watched (a!es walk away then closed the door. (a!es went back downstairs to the study and poured hi!self a large whiskey. )e looked at the clock nearly two in the !orning 0arry wasn*t due to arri"e until ten plenty of ti!e to sleep.
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)e sat down in the chair at so!e point he*d ha"e to tell -hoebe what he*d done to her in the nightclub but for now he*d let things play out. <inishing his whisky (a!es closed his eyes fully intending to go to bed but fell asleep before he could !o"e.

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Sensing so!eone on the periphery of his "ision in one fluid !o"e!ent (a!es awoke stood up turned round and snarled4to find -hoebe standing there with a cup of coffee. 3;ou de!ons are so crabby first thing in the !orning4it*s nearly nineFthirty thought you !ight want waking up with this45 -hoebe handed (a!es the cup of coffee. 3Shit 0arry will be here at ten #*! going to take a shower and get changed5 Taking the cup off -hoebe (a!es left the library without saying another word -hoebe watched hi! heading upstairs. &'ood morning #hoebe, isn!t that (amie!s shirt you!re wearing, are you feeling better) &Yes (ames, feeling a lot better, hope you don!t mind me wearing (amie!s shirt) -hoebe carried on the dialogue alone knowing that (a!ie would ha"e been really concerned for her and that he*d probably ha"e slept with her holding her in his ar!s. ?ithout a doubt -hoebe preferred (a!es* attitude.

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As she turned to lea"e (a!es* !obile bu99ed she picked it up and saw the caller was )unter. She decided to take the call. 30ood !orning Sheringbourne Rectory how !ay # help you65 <or a !o!ent )unter didn*t reply then -hoebe heard hi! take a deep breath. 3Tell !e that isn*t -hoebe5 3# don*t lie )unter it*s !e5 3So #sabella has got you spying on (a!es now has she65 3# no longer work for #sabella5 3Eon*t gi"e !e that shit -hoebe the only way to get out of #sabella*s e!ploy is by death5 3?ell it ca!e close Scott all but beat the crap out of !e accused !e of betraying #sabella45 30reat co"er story a few bruises to persuade (a!es to take you in5 3#t !ay surprise you to know that # ha"en*t asked to stay here per!anently .ust for a short while until # get so!ewhere else sorted out5 3?hy don*t you co!e and ser"e !e # rather like the idea of #sabella*s whore being at !y beck and call5 -hoebe had to fight to keep her anger under control. 3Sorry )unter #*! the wrong se@45 3Bitch4#*! warning you -hoebe # won*t be as lenient as Scott if you dare betray us5 3So do you want !e to gi"e (a!es a !essage65 3Tell hi! to call !e5 )unter ended the call. -hoebe s!iled to herself feeling

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proud that she*d stood up to )unter knowing that the infor!ation she was going to gi"e (a!es later would !ake )unter reFe"aluate his opinion of her. 3-hoebe45 )earing (a!es* calling her she ran up the stairs to his bedroo! the door was open she went in to find hi! towelling hi!self down. 3;es65 3?hat did )unter want65 3Ea!n you*re percepti"e5 (a!es glared at her his eyes !o!entarily bla9ing red. 3And don*t you forget it5 3#*"e already had that lecture fro! )unter thank you5 3So what did he want65 3)e wants you to call hi!4but if you don*t !ind waiting until we*"e had a chance to talk there*s so!e infor!ation # ha"e that you !ight want to gi"e hi!5 3Eon*t get fucking cryptic with !e what*s the infor!ation5 3-lease can it wait until you*"e seen 0arry45 3Alright #*ll wait. So you prefer !y attitude do you65 3Sorry65 (a!es* laugh was dark and chilling. 3$othing escapes !y attention -hoebe you*re wearing one of (a!ie*s old shirts did it bring back happy !e!ories65 3# wouldn*t say they were happy # was .ust doing !y .ob5 3And you failed spectacularly +i9 !anaged to achie"e in one night what you ne"er !anaged to do in se"eral days5
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3That !ay be so but #*! here and +i9 isn*t45 3;ou are only here te!porarily # suggest you use your ti!e wisely today and find so!ewhere to li"e #*! sure there*s a brothel in the city that needs whores5 3;ou*re a bastard (a!es it !ay surprise you to know that # actually ha"e a degree in business !anage!ent that was how # ended up working for #sabella. # applied for a .ob in her co!pany she decided #*d be better suited to working at the grange. ;ou ha"e no idea what Scott put !e through to break !e down4until # !et hi! # didn*t e"en belie"e in de!ons5 (a!es was taken aback he walked o"er to -hoebe and put his ar!s around her. 3So we*"e both suffered at the hands of #sabella5 3Dore than you could e"er know5 3?e*ll talk about this later -hoebe # !ight ha"e an interesting proposal for you. $ow get your ass out of here and stop distracting !e5 -hoebe knew e@actly what (a!es was inferring she s!iled at hi! as he let her go. A loud knock on the door !ade her look round. 3That will be 0arry go and let hi! in #*ll be down in a !o!ent5

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-hoebe went downstairs and opened the front door. 3)i #*! 0arry #*"e co!e to see (a!es45 3)e*ll be down in a !o!ent please co!e in5 -hoebe took 0arry through to the study he sat down without taking his eyes of her. 3?ould you like a drink65 3Coffee please straight black5 -hoebe turned round to find (a!es stood in the doorway he ga"e her his e!pty cup. 3+ikewise5 )e went into the study and sat down facing 0arry. 3#s she your45 (a!es held up his hand. 3$o that*s -hoebe she used to work for #sabella5 3#sabella let her go4and she*s still ali"e65 3$ot e@actly #*ll tell you the full story another ti!e but down to business. ?hen can you !o"e in65 3#f it*s urgent # can arrange so!ething for today but # ha"e a re'uest to !ake4can !y partner !o"e in with !e65

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3-artner65 3;eah Darc we*"e been together for eight years he ca!e round to do so!e work on the house # knew straight away he was a de!on but didn*t say anything. ?e beca!e good friends then when # felt the ti!e was right # took hi! to !eet )unter45 3$o proble! if he*s also prepared to ser"e !e5 3Eefinitely when # told hi! what you*d offered !e he was as .ealous as hell5 3So what is his trade65 3# guess handy!an would be the best description gardening E#;45 3-erfect # already ha"e an urgent pro.ect for hi! to start work on one that Rik was supposed to be doing45 3?here is Rik65 3?ell # left hi! with )unter last night where he is now and how !any pieces he*s in #*"e no idea5 3?hat the fuck did he do65 3Betrayed !e and )unter4to #sabella5 3Shit is that why -hoebe is here re"enge65 (a!es grinned !ale"olently then looked round as -hoebe bought the drinks in. 3-hoebe40arry and Darc are going to !o"ing in later can you clear Rik*s belongings out of his roo!65 3Sure # !ight find so!ething else to wear until # get so!e clothes45 (a!es picked up his !obile and ga"e it to -hoebe. 3That*s got internet access order whate"er you need and

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get the! to deli"er by e@press courier45 Taking his wallet out of his pocket (a!es ga"e -hoebe his card. 3Charge it to !y account5 3(a!es4# couldn*t45 3;ou*ll pay !e back later don*t doubt that -hoebe now go5 (a!es turned back to 0arry. 3Right so you can be responsible for security and dri"ing Darc can do the gardening and this pro.ect # ha"e planned. There are three bedsits in the attic you ha"e !y per!ission to turn the! into one large flat pro"iding !y pro.ect gets priority understood65 0arry .ust sat there with a big grin on his face. 3#*ll take that as a yes5 0arry .u!ped to his feet. 3Eefinitely yes #*ll go and tell Darc we should be !o"ed in by the end of the day5 (a!es stood up and showed 0arry out.

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(a!es walked into the kitchen and sat down ne@t to -hoebe she s!iled at hi!. 3#*"e ordered a few basics until # can get out to the shops thanks for helping !e out (a!es5 3So what*s this infor!ation you ha"e for !e65 3Before # tell you there*s so!ething else # want you to know # think you deser"e the truth. Eo you re!e!ber the gay porn "ideo45 3;es5 3?ell Scott set you up it was another of #sabella*s atte!pts to bring you to the point of transfor!ation5 3# appreciate you telling !e the truth -hoebe but that is in the past now and of no concern to !e any!ore. $ow the infor!ation please45 3# can*t 'uite get o"er how !uch your transfor!ation has changed you (a!es45 3#t*s for the better don*t you agree65 3Absolutely # can understand now why #sabella was so eager to get her claws into you. Anyway the infor!ation well

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at the last party #sabella held instead of the usual entertain!ent she gathered her de!ons together for a !eeting. ,b"iously # was e@cluded but # did !anage to o"erhear so!e con"ersations one phrase in particular stuck in !y !ind4Arcana #n"ocandu!5 30i"e !e the !obile5 -hoebe handed it to (a!es who speedFdialled )unter*s nu!ber. 3)unter # think we ha"e a !a.or proble! what does Arcana #n"ocandu! !ean to you65 3Eepends who is going to be in"oking it5 3#sabella5 (a!es could hear )unter growling. 3-hoebe has .ust told !e that at the last party #sabella called a !eeting of her de!ons that was the phrase she o"erheard being discussed45 3Dy understanding is that only you would be able to co!plete it successfully. But as we both know #sabella is da!ned deter!ined to a!ass !ore power5 3)unter you are !ore than powerful enough to destroy her so why do you allow her to sur"i"e65 3Because #*! a guardian # a! constrained by de!on laws to obser"e certain principles4you howe"er do not ha"e to obser"e any such restrictions5 3So it*s down to !e5 3That is your decision # cannot endorse any action you !ay decide to take5 3Then #*! on !y own5
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3(a!es !y de!ons are not bound by restrictions either essentially you ha"e an ar!y at your co!!and. And as the su!!oner45 3# understand a! # correct in belie"ing that if #sabella were to in"oke the ritual #*d be aware of it65 3Acutely you*"e not sensed anything yet ha"e you65 3$o4what is the balance of power between you two65 3# ha"e !ore de!ons than #sabella and of course # ha"e you on !y side so the power is essentially all !ine5 30ood then # ha"e ti!e to establish !y own power base # strongly feel it is i!portant that # return to !y sketching. #*! ha"ing the old building at the botto! of the garden con"erted to a studio actually # intend to start painting !ore than sketching5 3#sabella*s "ision45 3Dy "ision that she tried to steal fro! !e5 3So what are your plans for -hoebe65 3# cannot discuss the! right now5 )unter knew that -hoebe was sitting with (a!es so he changed the sub.ect. 3?hen are 0arry and Darc !o"ing in65 3By this e"ening hopefully5 3?ere you shocked when you found out about Darc65 (a!es laughed. 3Since knowing you # a! beyond being shocked and besides Darc is prepared to ser"e !e45 3(a!es45 3)unter you ha"e a one track !ind now if you*ll e@cuse

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!e # ha"e a lot to organise5 3+et !e know what you decide to do with -hoebe #*! here if you need any assistance5 3Thank you )unter5 (a!es replied sarcastically knowing what )unter !eant by assistance then he ended the call. 3So -hoebe you ha"e a degree in business !anage!ent65 3;es not had !uch call for it so far5 3#*"e ne"er asked how old you are5 3TwentyFfi"e5 3Are you prepared to swear your loyalty to !e65 3;es and you are percepti"e enough to know that # a! telling the truth. # will not betray you or )unter after what #sabella did to !e # a! ha"e as !uch hatred for her as you do5 3?ould you like to take re"enge on her65 3(a!es #*! a !ere hu!an # wouldn*t stand a chance5 3But as a de!on45 -hoebe laughed softly. 3Sorry to disappoint you but there isn*t a de!on in !e to be awakened5 3#sn*t there65 3# think #*d know if there was especially after what Scott and #sabella put !e through5 (a!es was silent for a !o!ent then he continued% 3)ere is what #*! proposing # want you to !anage !y in"est!ents and the estate essentially # want you to be !y business !anager is that so!ething you*re prepared to do65
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-hoebe stared at (a!es in astonish!ent. 3That is a lot of responsibility5 3?ell if you don*t think your capable45 3# didn*t say that it !ight .ust take !e a while to get !y !ind together well not that long actually gi"e !e a co!puter and #*ll be ready to go5 3To!orrow get 0arry to take you into the city buy whate"er e'uip!ent you need4and so!e suitable clothes5 3#*! 'uite capable of dri"ing !yself # don*t need 0arry to run around after !e5 3-hoebe you*re !y business !anager 0arry will ser"e you as he ser"es !e get used to your new status5 3#t*s not easy for !e as a hu!an to co!!and respect fro! a de!on especially as #*"e only ser"ed the! in the past5 3Then consider beco!ing a de!on yourself5 3?e*"e already had this discussion (a!es45 3But you ha"en*t gi"en !e an answer if you had a choice would you beco!e a de!on65 3?ell ha"ing spent so long surrounded by the! knowing their ways their carnal desires4yes5 3;ou realise how rare fe!ale de!ons are65 3#sabella told !e that there are only fifty including herself !ost ne"er beco!e as powerful as their !ale counterparts. # guess that*s why she is trying to a!ass so !uch power she feels as though she has so!ething to pro"e5 3?ell since beco!ing the su!!oner # ha"e found that # can access the !e!ories of the pre"ious two su!!oners. The first one had a fe!ale de!on who worked with hi! she died

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alongside hi!. #n the nightclub you asked what #*d done to you4well # was seeing if you were suitable to beco!e a de!on5 -hoebe gasped. 3Eid you intend to !ake !e a de!on without !y per!ission65 3Certainly not # ha"e !ore respect for you than that # !ade lo"e to you in the nightclub # didn*t take you by force5 3#*! aware of that # ad!it # was 'uite surprised4but of course you had an ulterior !oti"e seeing if # could beco!e a de!on45 3#s your answer still yes65 3Are you planning to su!!on the fe!ale de!on who worked with the first su!!oner65 3#ndeed5 3?ill it be painful # !ean what e@actly is in"ol"ed65 3#t won*t be too dissi!ilar to the usual transfor!ation e@cept that instead of waking your inner de!on we*ll be drawing one into you5 3Are you sure you can do it65 (a!es* eyes !o!entarily bla9ed red. 3;ou dare to ask !e that65 3#*! sorry #*! still not used to you being the su!!oner # !eant no disrespect5 (a!es got to his feet and held out his hand. 3So are you ready65 Taking (a!es* hand -hoebe followed hi! out of the kitchen.
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Surrounded by darkness -hoebe suddenly felt as if she*d been plunged into ice she gasped and opened her eyes. )er ar!s flailing wildly she desperately tried to !ake sense of what was happening to her. 3#t*s alright cal! down you*re safe now45 -hoebe realised she was sat in the bath and the water was free9ing cold her teeth started to chatter. 3#*! free9ing45 (a!es carefully lifted her out of the bath and carried her through to the bedroo! there was a towel on the bed he lay her down on top of it. Then picking up another towel started rubbing her ar!s and legs "igorously. 3(a!es4what happened65 )e gently sat her up wrapped the towel around her and held her to hi! tightly. 3# ne"er realised fe!ale de!ons could be so stubborn you were prepared and ready but the transfor!ation was slower than # anticipated. ;ou were !o!entarily suspended in the "oid between worlds hence the ice bath you needed a shock

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to your syste! to bring you to reality5 3But the transfor!ation is co!plete65 3#ndeed it is5 (a!es stood up and held out his hands. As -hoebe held on and slowly stood up she felt a surge of energy coursing through her body. +etting go of (a!es she stretched her body as her !uscles e@panded. 1ntil finally she let out a growl and pulled herself up to her full height. 37ery i!pressi"e5 She turned to face (a!es who had not transfor!ed. 3$ow re"erse the flow of energy and change back to your hu!an for!45 -hoebe did as (a!es instructed and staggered back on to the bed and sat down. 3That is going to take so!e getting used to # always thought the transfor!ation fro! hu!an to de!on looked pretty i!pressi"e but # ne"er realised it took so !uch power5 (a!es sat down beside her and took hold of her hand. 3(ust take it easy until you*"e had ti!e to ad.ust5 -hoebe put her hand on (a!es* face. 3# ha"e her !e!ories4as you ha"e those of the su!!oner they were deeply in lo"e45 (a!es clenched -hoebe*s wrist tightly. 3Daybe they were but we are not. $ow 0arry and Darc will be here shortly and Rik*s belongings still need clearing out5 3Dy apologies (a!es it won*t happen again5 -hoebe picked her shirt up off the chair and walked out of
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the bedroo!. (a!es swore under his breath he knew he*d been too harsh. +ea"ing the bedroo! he went up to the attic he stood in the doorway for a !o!ent then walked o"er to -hoebe and put his ar!s around her. 3#t is !e who should apologise5 (a!es kissed her as he held her tightly. 3# .ust didn*t want to go rushing into so!ething we !ight both end up regretting based on a lo"e that e@isted centuries ago5 3(a!es # understand it was a bit o"erwhel!ing for !e too to be honest. ?e*ll .ust take it slow and see what happens shall we65 3;es now unless #*! !istaken that sounds like a "an outside. #*! sure 0arry and Darc will gi"e you a hand #*ll see you in the study later5 )e kissed -hoebe again before lea"ing the attic and heading downstairs. ?hen (a!es opened the front door he was surprised that the "an actually belonged to a courier who was standing with an ar!ful of parcels. 3Eeli"ery for Diss )a!pson5 3,h yes of course5 (a!es !otioned to the dri"er to put the! on the table in the hall duly signed for the! and closed the door. 3-hoebe get your ass down here now5 A few seconds later -hoebe ca!e running down the stairs. 3Eo you always su!!on your de!ons like that65

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(a!es laughed. 3$o # reser"e that call .ust for you4your parcels ha"e arri"ed5 -hoebe stared at the pile of parcels. 3# didn*t think #*d ordered that !uch5 0athering the parcels up -hoebe turned to go back upstairs. 3Diss )a!pson5 -hoebe looked round. (a!es grinned. 3Eo you realise that # didn*t know your surna!e until the deli"ery dri"er said it65 3$o Dr >eirnan # had no idea=5 -hoebe laughed as she ran up the stairs. Do!ents later there was a spine chilling screa! fro! the direction of -hoebe*s bedroo!. (a!es raced up the stairs. -hoebe was standing by a bo@ she turned round as (a!es ran into the roo!. 3+ook45 (a!es slipped his ar! around -hoebe*s waist as he looked into the bo@. #t contained a !an*s head he recognised hi! fro! the nightclub it was -aul. )e pulled -hoebe to hi! and held her head against his chest. 3?hy did they kill hi! (a!es why65 3Because they belie"e that you*re still hu!an so they*re trying to warn you and they chose -aul because he was with you in the nightclub as was #. ?hat concerns !e is how they knew you were e@pecting a deli"ery. Eid any of the shops
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know you personally65 3,h shit4yes one of the! do you think they would ha"e told #sabella65 3#f the shop is owned by one of her de!ons 'uite possibly. ?hat is the na!e of the shop65 3Shadows5 3#*ll !ake so!e en'uiries4are you going to be alright65 3;es #*ll be fine it was .ust the initial shock5 3?ell you get changed and .oin !e in the study #*ll ha"e a drink waiting for you5 (a!es picked up the bo@ containing -aul*s head and left the roo!.

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+ea"ing the bo@ on the hall table (a!es went through to the study and poured a couple of drinks. Then he picked up his !obile and called )unter. 3(a!es why do # sense that so!ething has happened5 3Because it has #*"e .ust taken deli"ery of so!e parcels for -hoebe one contained the head of a guy called -aul. )e worked for #sabella well the catering co!pany she uses he was with -hoebe the night # saw her in the nightclub. Can you check so!ething out for !e # need to know who owns a clothes shop called Shadows5 3# can answer that straight away it*s a guy called Todd Tra"ali he*s one of #sabella*s de!ons45 3That was the bastard who Scott set up to force !e into transfor!ation # think # told you about the gay porn !o"ie45 3;es so what does this ha"e to do with the parcels65 3-hoebe ordered so!e clothes fro! his shop not realising who owned it. So ob"iously he told #sabella and she !ade sure of a special deli"ery5

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3#*! going to send Sa!uel round to pick the head up lea"e it to !e to deal with Todd5 3# ha"e a right to re"enge5 3Trust !e (a!es let !e deal with this !y way ,>65 3(ust nail the bastard for !e5 3;ou .ust !ake sure you take care of -hoebe #sabella has !ade her intentions 'uite clear5 3-hoebe will be perfectly safe with !e don*t worry about that5 (a!es looked up as -hoebe walked into the study she stopped when she saw (a!es was on the phone he held out his hand to her. She picked up her drink and walked o"er to hi! he pulled her on to his knee. 3?ell if you need !y help45 3#*ll ask for it )unter5 3Sa!uel is on his way .ust lea"e Todd to !e5 )unter ended the call. -hoebe put her ar!s around (a!es* neck. 3Eid you find out who owned the shop65 3Todd5 3,h shit now #*! in serious trouble5 3-hoebe you*re a de!on4and besides Sa!uel*s on his way to pick up the bo@ )unter is going to deal with Todd5 3Eid you tell )unter that #*! a de!on65 3$o he underesti!ates !e -hoebe and #*d rather it stayed that way for now5 3?ell now he*s got two of us to underesti!ate5 (a!es* eyes glowed red as he grinned at -hoebe then he

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looked round as he heard a "an pulling up outside. 3)opefully that is 0arry and Darc45 -hoebe .u!ped to her feet. 3#*ll sort the! out well not literally=5 She laughed as she left the study. -hoebe opened the front door 0arry stared at her. 3# sense a change in you4you*re45 3Ee!on5 3# don*t understand # ne"er sensed it before you can*t .ust beco!e a de!on45 3Eo not underesti!ate (a!es* power5 3;ou ha"e !y respect -hoebe !ay # ask in what capacity you will be ser"ing the su!!oner65 3Business !anager5 37ery i!pressi"e45 0arry turned round as Darc walked o"er to .oin the!. 3-hoebe this is Darc ?alstad5 Darc held out his hand. Shaking Darc*s hand -hoebe s!iled at hi!. 3?ould you like to !eet (a!es before you begin65 3#f that isn*t a proble!5 -hoebe led Darc through to the study (a!es looked round. 3(a!es this is Darc ?alstad5 0etting to his feet (a!es reached out and shook Darc*s hand. 3#t is an honour for !e to ser"e the su!!oner5 3?ell # ha"e a large pro.ect waiting for you so once you*re
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settled in we shall discuss what needs doing5 Darc nodded as he followed -hoebe out of the study. 3$ow if you*ll both like to follow !e #*ll take you to the attic5

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(a!es was sat !aking notes for his plans for the studio when there was a knock on the door. )e looked up as Sa!uel walked into the study. (a!es went o"er to hi!. 3Sa!uel it*s good to see you again5 3;ou*"e beco!e "ery powerful (a!es it*s beginning to !ake )unter wary of you5 3#s that a threat65 3Think of it as cautionary ad"ice fro! a friend5 (a!es put his hand around Sa!uel*s throat and pinned hi! against the door. 3$e"er 'uestion !y abilities or !oti"es5 +etting Sa!uel go (a!es opened the door. 3The bo@ is on the table in the hall take it to )unter with !y co!pli!ents5 As (a!es watched Sa!uel lea"e -hoebe ca!e down the stairs and walked o"er to hi!. 3-roble!s65 3C!pty threats fro! )unter5 3#t !ight be ad"isable to stay on the right side of hi! for

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now after all he has the de!ons under his control45 (a!es lashed out at -hoebe sending her sprawling down the hall. 3Re!e!ber who you ser"e -hoebe5 (a!es looked up and saw Darc halfway down the stairs fro9en to the spot. )e turned and walked back into the study and sla!!ed the door. Darc ran o"er to -hoebe and helped her to her feet. 3Are you alright65 3#*! a fucking de!on of course #*! alright5 Darc took a step back as -hoebe growled under her breath. 3)ey #*! sorry # was only trying to help5 -hoebe watched as Darc ran back up the stairs then she went to the study. As she walked into the roo! she got undressed and began to transfor!. 0etting to his feet (a!es did likewise. 3Are you daring to challenge !e -hoebe65 She took a step towards (a!es and growled under her breath. 3(ust de!anding respect5 (a!es could sense -hoebe*s rage it was so !uch stronger now she was a de!on it e@cited hi! in a way he*d ne"er felt before. 3Respect is earned not de!anded45 0rabbing hold of -hoebe around her throat (a!es forced her down on to her knees. 3;ou know what is e@pected of you5 -hoebe looked up at (a!es and snarled then taking hold of

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his erection ran her tongue around before taking hi! into her !outh. 3All of it5 (a!es thrust deeper into -hoebe*s !outh the feeling of her tongue sending hi! into ecstasy. -hoebe suddenly stopped and abruptly stood up she pushed (a!es backwards onto the sofa sitting astride hi! before he could fight back. )olding on to -hoebe*s hips (a!es lifted her onto his erection pulling her down so hard that she growled. C"en in her de!on skin -hoebe was still incredibly se@y (a!es pulled her to hi! and held her tight. 3?e ha"e waited so long to be together again !y lo"e we will ne"er be apart again5 +ifting -hoebe*s head to look at hi! (a!es kissed her a surge of energy passed between the! reaffir!ing their eternal bond.

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(a!es woke up alone in his bed that was the agree!ent he had with -hoebe as hu!ans they*d both agreed that they would take their relationship one step at a ti!e. #t wasn*t easy their de!ons yearned to be together but not until the ti!e was right they both knew that. )e rolled o"er and looked at the clock nearly eight (a!es got out of bed and went to take a shower before getting dressed. The !e!ory of their bonding the pre"ious night burned like a raging fire in his !ind. )e set the shower te!perature to cold. ,nce dressed (a!es headed downstairs he could hear crashing and banging co!ing fro! the direction of the garden. ?alking into the kitchen he found -hoebe sat talking to 0arry. 3?hat*s all that noise65 0arry looked up. 3Darc decided to get started on your pro.ect as you said it was urgent is that a proble!65 (a!es s!iled.

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3$ot at all5 )e sat down ne@t to -hoebe she s!iled at hi!. 3Coffee65 (a!es didn*t need to reply. As -hoebe went to !ake a drink (a!es turned to 0arry with a serious look on his face. 3# presu!e -hoebe has told you that you*re taking her to the city this !orning. ?ell #*! sure # don*t need to re!ind you that her safety is your priority45 3(a!es # would lay down !y life for -hoebe ha"e no doubts about that5 3Thank you5 As -hoebe put (a!es* coffee down she lightly kissed the top of 0arry*s head. 3And thank you fro! !e too5 She s!iled as she sat down ne@t to (a!es. 3-hoebe if # !ake a list of art !aterials # need can you pick the! up for !e65 3,f course5 30ood #*ll go and !ake a list5 -icking up his coffee (a!es left the kitchen. 3# guess we*d better get ready to go shopping looks like we*re going to ha"e a busy !orning5 0arry put his hand on -hoebe*s ar!. 3(ust pro!ise !e one thing that you will stay by !y side at all ti!es do not go wandering off alone e"en for a brief !o!ent5 3Eon*t worry # don*t intend to # !ay be a de!on now but #*! well aware of the dangers. But # do draw the line at you
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co!ing into the changing roo!s with !e5 3That wouldn*t be a proble! for !e45 3,h of course4Darc45 3-hoebe not all gay !en wear pink de!ons e"en less so=5 They both laughed. After -hoebe had got changed she went down to the study to get the list off (a!es. )e took her in his ar!s. 3-lease be careful any sign of trouble co!e ho!e i!!ediately5 3# think 0arry will !ake sure of that5 (a!es picked up a piece of paper off the desk and his credit card and handed the! to -hoebe. 3# can*t wait to start painting and this ti!e it*s not going to be in black ink5 3?ill you be needing a !odel65 3;es #*ll ha"e to ha"e a look on the internet see who # can find45 (a!es grinned at -hoebe !ischie"ously. 3?ell if !y body isn*t good enough for you45 3Eon*t start -hoebe .ust being near you infla!es !y carnal desires get going now45 (a!es slapped -hoebe*s backside. 3Alright #*! going #*ll call you if #*"e got any 'uestions about this5 -hoebe held up the list then blew (a!es a kiss as she left the study.

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After -hoebe had left (a!es headed outside to see how Darc was progressing. As he walked down the garden there were piles of ti!ber e"erywhere. Darc was inside sawing a piece of wood (a!es looked at hi! closely he was wearing a pair of tightFfitting black .eans and a black !uscle tFshirt he could understand why 0arry was attracted to hi!. Sensing (a!es* presence Darc stopped sawing and turned round. 3(a!es # was going to co!e and see you4# hope you don*t !ind #*"e !ade so!e changes to the plans45 3?hat changes65 3?ell the skylights for a start #*"e ordered special reflecti"e glass to keep the heat out this kind of building gets seriously hot in su!!er. And #*"e ordered sliding doors to allow !ore air in4# hope that*s alright65 3;es that sounds perfect45 30ood # need so!e !ore !aterials but it shouldn*t take !e !ore than a couple of days to co!plete. # want to !ake absolutely sure it*s weatherproof5 3)a"e you and 0arry decided what you*re going to do in

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the attic65 3?e*re .ust going to take out all the partition walls and apart fro! a kitchen one end and a bathroo! the other we plan to lea"e it as one big open space if you appro"e5 3As long as the roof stays on45 Darc looked horrified. 3(a!es # won*t do anything to affect the structural integrity of the house5 0rinning (a!es put his hand on Darc*s shoulder. 3# know5 Darc turned to face (a!es. 3;ou know # a! willing to ser"e you45 3Thank you but # do respect your loyalty to 0arry5 Darc sighed (a!es knew he was eager to please hi! and he was sorely te!pted but he had -hoebe now and better control of his carnal desires. 3?ell #*ll let you get back to your work5 (a!es turned to walk away Darc put his hand on his ar!. 30arry knows # a! loyal only to hi! but both of us willingly ser"e you5 3Thank you5 (a!es headed back to the house knowing he*d left Darc feeling .ust slightly frustrated. As (a!es walked into the study his !obile rang picking it up he checked to see who the caller was before answering. 3-hoebe proble!s already65 3Daybe4.ust seen a local paper4store owner Todd

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Tra"ali found dead police suspect suicide. The details say how -aul*s head was found with hi! and that the suicide note confessed to se"eral unsol"ed !urders5 3)unter truly stitched hi! up5 3;es and you realise how angry #sabella is going to be in status he was al!ost up there with Scott5 3?ell stay on alert and get back here as soon as you can5 3# will don*t worry 0arry is stalking around growling at e"eryone=5 -hoebe laughed as !uch to put (a!es at ease as anything. 3(ust take care #*ll see you later5 (a!es ended the call and was .ust about to ring )unter when his !obile rang again it was )unter. 3(a!es4now which one of us is !ore percepti"e65 37ery a!using #*"e .ust heard about Todd #sabella is going to be all out for re"enge now5 3Before Todd !et his de!ise # got out of hi! details about the Arcana #n"ocandu! that #sabella is intending to in"oke. Apparently she has her !ost powerful de!ons working on it but none of the! ha"e been successful. +ooks like you*re the only one who is powerful enough to perfor! the ritual5 3?hat about you65 3#t appears to be a su!!oner specific ritual #*! a guardian there are !any powerful rituals # can perfor! but not that one5 3?ell at least that is one less thing to worry about though # doubt she*ll stop trying5 3#s -hoebe safe65
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3She*s with 0arry shopping in the city yes she*s safe5 3?hat role do you ha"e planned for her65 3-hoebe has a degree in business !anage!ent so she*s going to !anage the estate5 3That*s a lot of responsibility for a de!on whore isn*t it65 3Take that state!ent back )unter -hoebe is no whore5 3Eo you know that #sabella found her working in a !assage parlour ser"icing one of her de!ons that*s how -hoebe ended up at the grange. )a"e you e"en bothered to "alidate her degree as being genuine65 (a!es swore under his breath. 3;ou ha"en*t ha"e you letting your lust get the better of you is "ery dangerous (a!es. # shall lea"e you to !ake your en'uiries5 )unter ended the call. Accessing the internet on his !obile (a!es found the telephone nu!ber for the 1ni"ersity the call was answered by a young wo!an. 3)ow !ay # help you65 3# need to "alidate a degree for a person who has applied for a .ob with !y co!pany4.5 3?hat is the persons full na!e65 3-hoebe )a!pson5 3(ust a !o!ent please5 (a!es could hear the wo!an clicking away on a keyboard. 3#*! sorry sir there is no record of that person in our syste!5 3#t was a business !anage!ent course45

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3Sir our database is "ery co!prehensi"e we*"e e"en co!puterised our old records anyone who has e"er attended this 1ni"ersity will be listed5 3# see thank you5 (a!es closed his !obile and threw it down on the desk. 3Shit5 (a!es poured hi!self a drink and sat down to wait for -hoebe to return ho!e.

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)earing a car pulling up outside (a!es got to his feet. Do!ents later -hoebe walked into the study and stopped dead in her tracks on seeing (a!es eyes bla9ing red. 3Tell 0arry to unpack the car and lea"e e"erything in the hall4we need to talk5 -hoebe nodded and hurried out of the study before returning and standing in front of (a!es knowing that he was in a furious rage. 3;ou lied to !e -hoebe about your degree. )unter infor!ed !e that #sabella found you working in a !assage parlour would you like to e@plain yourself65 3# did not lie about !y degree and45 3-hoebe # checked with the 1ni"ersity they had no record of you e"er being there5 She sighed. 3That is because you checked the wrong 1ni"ersity it wasn*t the one in the city # went to but one of the pro"incial ones. # didn*t bother saying this before because # didn*t think it was i!portant. And as for the !assage parlour yes # ad!it

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that is where #sabella found !e. Because like you # ca!e to the city with hopes and drea!s and when a .ob failed to !aterialise # had to take whate"er work # could5 3?hat was the na!e of the 1ni"ersity # would like to check for !yself5 3Arringdale 1ni"ersity go ahead and check5 -icking up his !obile (a!es 'uickly found the nu!ber and turning away fro! -hoebe called the 1ni"ersity. #t only took a few !inutes before he turned to face her. -hoebe glared at hi!. 3$ow do you belie"e !e65 3;es4co!e here5 -hoebe walked o"er to (a!es he put his ar!s around her. 3#t appears that we ha"e both walked a si!ilar path to get to this point5 3(a!es # suspect that )unter knew the truth # think he was trying to cause a rift between us so what are your plans now65 3To get the office installed and once the studio is ready begin painting4essentially establish and secure our own e!pire5 -hoebe*s eyes !o!entarily glowed red. 3As we originally planned !any centuries ago5 3#ndeed we*ll let )unter and #sabella carry on with their own feud4with so!e input fro! us if re'uired5 3?ell #*d better get to work then4#*"e got all your art !aterials45 3;ou know how to get !e e@cited=5
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(a!es kissed -hoebe then followed her out into the hall where 0arry was stood waiting. 3#*ll gi"e you a hand -hoebe where are you setting the office up65 3#n the study65 -hoebe glanced at (a!es who nodded before walking o"er to the bags that contained his art !aterials. 3#*ll put these in the !ain reception roo! for now5 (a!es picked up the bags and disappeared down the hallway. 0arry opened one of the bo@es. 3,nce (a!es starts painting # don*t think we*re going to be seeing !uch of hi!5 3# will he wants !e to !odel for hi!5 3As hu!an or de!on65 3$e"er thought to ask either will be fun=5

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#t took 0arry and -hoebe se"eral hours to turn the study into an office they were both sat ha"ing a drink when (a!es walked in. )e poured hi!self one and sat down ne@t to -hoebe. 3?ell # ha"e to say it look pretty i!pressi"e 0arry go and get Darc tell hi! to .oin us for a drink5 0arry put his glass down and headed out of the study. 3Are you going to tell the! the truth about us (a!es65 3$ot yet # !ay trust the! but # don*t trust )unter they*re .ust his type. Actually # ha"e to say # found it hard to resist Darc earlier45 3Daybe you should ask hi! to pose for you5 3#t doesn*t offend you65 -hoebe laughed. 3(a!es #*"e been around de!ons for years there is "ery little that offends !e=5 3That was what sent +i9 o"er the edge she caught !e and )unter in a rather interesting situation5 3#*d ha"e liked to ha"e seen that # would ha"e asked if #

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could ha"e .oined in5 (a!es put his hand on -hoebe*s cheek and kissed her softly. The door opened and he looked round as Darc and 0arry entered the roo!. Darc poured hi!self a drink and sat down ne@t to 0arry. 3)ow is the work co!ing along Darc65 37ery well if # !ake an early start to!orrow !ost of it will be co!plete # .ust need to paint the outside but if the weather stays dry you could !o"e in5 3C@cellent4then # ha"e another re'uest to !ake of you. ,nce you ha"e finished con"erting the attic4would you !odel for !e65 Darc*s eyes lit up he glanced at 0arry. 3;ou wouldn*t ha"e any ob.ections would you65 3Eefinitely not5 Darc turned to (a!es. 3#t would be an honour4as hu!an or de!on65 3Daybe both #*! still deciding on the sub.ect !atter -hoebe will also be posing for !e5 As -hoebe stood up e"eryone looked at her she laughed. 3#*! not posing now #*! going to cook so!e dinner if anyone is interested5 (a!es took hold of her hand. 3?e need a cook you*re going to ha"e !ore than enough work to do running the estate without preparing !eals for us5 3# really don*t !ind we can all !anage lunch and breakfast oursel"es but # like the idea of us all gathering around for an e"ening !eal4# feel it reinforces the bond

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between us5 (a!es s!iled. 3Alright but if # feel that it is beco!ing too !uch # shall su!!on a cook5 -hoebe bent down and kissed (a!es. 3Thank you40arry Darc ha"e you got any particular dislikes65 3$o we*ll literally eat anything5 0arry replied for both of the!. 30ood #*ll call you when dinner is ready5 As -hoebe left the roo! (a!es got to his feet and walked o"er to the desk glancing at 0arry and Darc who took their cue and left the study. Sitting down at the desk (a!es accessed a web site link that had been on the !obile that )unter had gi"en hi!. )e went through se"eral pro@y ser"ers for added security then inputting his passcode he confir!ed his #E and entered the site. This was a demons only foru! so e"eryone felt free to speak openly. (a!es did a search for Ksu!!oner* and was surprised by how !any threads there were. Scanning down the posts (a!es found that !any de!ons were eager to !eet hi! and to ser"e hi!. #t was ti!e to !ake his presence known. At the end of one of the threads he left a si!ple !essage% 3# a! here5 Then sat back and s!iled to hi!self. A !o!ent later (a!es recei"ed an alert that so!eone wanted to chat clicking on the link he saw that it was Scott.
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3(a!es # ha"e a !essage for you fro! #sabella5 3Eon*t you think an apology to -hoebe first would be !ore appropriate65 3She should be grateful she*s still ali"e to ser"e you5 3So it*s a threat then not a !essage6 And for your infor!ation -hoebe is not ser"ing !e5 3She has left65 3# didn*t say that4.ust gi"e !e the !essage5 3#sabella wants !e tell you how the first su!!oner died45 3# already know he was killed by a de!on he su!!oned5 3?ell what you !ay not know is that the su!!oner worked with a fe!ale de!on together they were e@tre!ely powerful. The guardian felt they were beco!ing a threat to his authority and being interested in the fe!ale de!on for hi!self ordered the death of the su!!oner. )owe"er in the ensuing fight not only did the su!!oner lose his life so did the fe!ale de!on. # thought you !ight be interested to know that the guardian was )unter5 (a!es was grateful that they were not ha"ing this con"ersation face to face. 3And #*! supposed to feel angry about that65 3#*! .ust warning you (a!es we are !ore than aware of how powerful you are but so is )unter4all #*! saying is that if he percei"es you as a threat45 3#t*s "ery touching that #sabella is concerned about !e5 3# can*t belie"e that you refuse to percei"e )unter as a threat5

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3Sorry but if #sabella wants to go to war against hi! then she is on her own5 Cnding the chat con"ersation (a!es logged out of the foru! and looked up as -hoebe walked into the study. She saw his eyes flash red. 3Trouble65 3;es we*ll discuss it after dinner5 3Alright # hope it hasn*t ruined your appetite5 (a!es walked o"er to her and held her tightly. 3$o it has gi"en !e e"en !ore of an appetite4for war5

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After dinner (a!es took -hoebe through to the !ain reception roo!. 3# thought it was ti!e we started using this as a sitting roo! keep the study purely for business5 -hoebe took a seat as (a!es poured the! both a drink then he sat alongside her. 3# went on to the de!on foru! and chatted with Scott he ga"e !e a !essage fro! #sabella5 3# don*t suppose an apology was forthco!ing65 3$o but you will ha"e an opportunity for re"enge5 -hoebe s!iled. 3So what is #sabella threatening to do this ti!e65 3$o threats she wanted !e to know who killed the first su!!oner4and you. Apparently a guardian was so interested in possessing you for hi!self that he ordered a de!on to kill the su!!oner sadly you also lost your life in the process. That guardian was )unter5 -hoebe growled. 3The bastard4it*s lucky you didn*t tell hi! that #*! a

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de!on that will be a surprise he won*t see co!ing. So are we going to take hi! out65 3#t*s not that si!ple -hoebe re!o"e )unter and #sabella will try and take his place5 3Aren*t you powerful enough to take the role of su!!oner and guardian65 3The two roles are 'uite separate a guardian is bound by "ery strict rules so # cannot be both. )owe"er # do not see any reason why you couldn*t be the first fe!ale guardian5 -hoebe laughed. 3,h that would really piss #sabella off=5 3#t*s a "ery responsible position -hoebe45 She stopped laughing and stared at hi!. 3# a! well aware of that if you didn*t think # was capable of being a guardian you wouldn*t ha"e suggested it. So the 'uestion is how do we stop #sabella65 3(ust killing her isn*t an option although she doesn*t ha"e as !any de!ons on her side as )unter it would still precipitate a war and # don*t want to ha"e to deal with the after!ath of that. ?e .ust need to find a way to keep her fro! taking o"er as guardian long enough for you to stake your clai!5 There was a brief knock on the door before 0arry walked into the sitting roo!. 3Sorry for disturbing you Eetecti"e #nspector Brough would like a word with you5 3#s he45 0arry shook his head to indicate that the detecti"e wasn*t a
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de!on. 3-lease show hi! in5 (a!es stood up as the detecti"e walked in. 3Dr >eirnan !y apologies for disturbing you !ay # ask you a few 'uestions65 3,f course please take a seat5 3Dr >eirnan do you know a young wo!an by the na!e of Cli9abeth Dakinster65 3;ou !ean +i9 yes we used to work together why65 3She*s gone !issing her father said she was co!ing to li"e here45 3;es sadly she chose to seek other e!ploy!ent. )ow long has she been !issing65 3,nly a few days she told her father that she had a .ob inter"iew and ne"er returned ho!e5 3?ell # can assure you detecti"e that # ha"en*t seen her since she left here5 3#*! not doubting that Dr >eirnan she told her father that her inter"iew was going to be at the grange do you ha"e any idea of where she was referring to65 (a!es turned to -hoebe. 3?ould you like to tell the detecti"e or shall #65 -hoebe knew e@actly what she had to do she was ready to play her part. Biting her lip and looking as ner"ous as she could -hoebe briefly glanced at the detecti"e. 3#4# used to work at the grange Thornwell 0range it is owned by #sabella 7on )agen. She e!ployed !e as a !aid4 but # was e@pected to do !ore than cleaning45

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-hoebe looked down as if in e!barrass!ent. 3And your na!e is65 3Diss -hoebe )a!pson sir5 She briefly glanced at the detecti"e. 3Diss )a!pson if you can gi"e !e any details that !ight help !y in"estigation45 3?ell4they ha"e parties there4and4and in the base!ent there are secret roo!s4# was e@pected to entertain guests45 -hoebe got to her feet. 3#*! sorry # can*t talk about any!ore45 She ran out of the roo!. 3#*! sorry detecti"e45 3#t*s alright Dr >eirnan # can understand her distress # can see #*! going to ha"e to in"estigate Diss 7on )agen and the grange and find out what is going on. #t does not sound "ery pleasant5 3Eetecti"e # a! "ery concerned for +i9*s safety45 3Eon*t worry Dr >eirnan # shall do !y best to find her and keep you infor!ed of proceedings5 As he stood up to lea"e he turned to (a!es and shook his hand. 3(ust one !ore 'uestion !ay # ask what your line of business is65 3#s that rele"ant to the in"estigation detecti"e65 3#t is .ust for the records Dr >eirnan5 3#*! an artist a painter45 3# see well thank you for your assistance #*ll keep you infor!ed5
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After (a!es had shown the detecti"e out -hoebe ca!e out of the kitchen. 3Sorry (a!es # thought lea"ing would be the !ost dra!atic thing to do it didn*t cause any proble!s did it65 3$ot at all but #*"e got a really bad feeling about this detecti"e45 0arry walked o"er to .oin the!. 3(a!es # wasn*t the only de!on in the police force with your per!ission # can !ake sure that the detecti"e doesn*t dig too deeply45 3Thanks 0arry that would be appreciated # need the detecti"e to find enough incri!inating e"idence to keep #sabella tied up for a while without hi! unearthing anything about de!ons5 3# a! not going to ask what you*re planning (a!es but know this4both Darc and # will stand by your side e"en if it !eans going to hell and back5 0arry*s broad grin !ade (a!es s!ile. 3+et*s hope we don*t need to go that far4for now5

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(a!es and -hoebe returned to the sitting roo! (a!es sighed as he sat down. 3?ell hopefully that will keep #sabella distracted for a while now to decide what we do about )unter5 3(a!es4are you at all concerned for +i9*s welfare65 3# would be if she was a de!on other than that not especially does that surprise you65 3Any feelings you once had for her died after your transfor!ation didn*t they65 (a!es growled at -hoebe. 3# do not need interrogating about !y feelings for +i94we ha"e !ore i!portant issues to deal with than concern oursel"es about a hu!an5 3# know and # ha"e an idea about how to deal with )unter. Eo you think he*s aware that #*! a de!on yet65 3#t is possible4why65 3?ell the idea # ha"e is to throw a party )unter and his de!ons will all be in"ited ob"iously4and we confront hi! about the e@ecution of the first su!!oner4and !e5

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3That could be interesting howe"er loyal his de!ons are to hi! once they find out the truth about what he did # should i!agine !ost if not all of the! would turn against hi!. As the guardian he has rules he is supposed to adhere to4-hoebe we need to find definiti"e proof that )unter did issue an order to kill the first su!!oner so far we only ha"e #sabella*s word5 3Then su!!on the de!on who carried out the killing4 and hope he*s not one of #sabella*s5 3#f # su!!on hi! he will be obliged to ser"e !e so it*s irrele"ant if he is one of #sabella*s de!ons5 3Shall # lea"e you alone while you do the su!!oning65 3# think that !ight be ad"isable5 -hoebe left the sitting roo! and went through to the kitchen Darc was leaning against the worktop growling under his breath. )e was wearing an old pair of ripped .eans and his shirt was open to -hoebe he oo9ed se@ appeal. She walked o"er to hi!. 3So!ething wrong65 Darc looked at -hoebe his eyes briefly flashing red. 3(ust a disagree!ent o"er the design for the flat5 -hoebe couldn*t resist putting her hand on Darc*s chest. 3#*! sure you*ll work things out #*! going to !ake a cup of coffee want one65 As -hoebe turned away Darc held her wrist against his chest she looked up at hi!. 3-hoebe # was bi before # was gay45 Darc ran his tongue along -hoebe*s lips before pulling her

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towards hi! and kissing her forcing his tongue into her !outh al!ost taking -hoebe*s breath away. She could feel his erection pressing against her thigh she wriggled against hi! e@citedly. +ifting -hoebe*s skirt up Darc s'uee9ed her !ound through her panties she !oaned softly pressing herself against his hand. 3Are you sure you want to do this -hoebe65 3,oh yes45 She gasped between breaths. Darc slid her panties down and lifted her onto the worktop. Standing between her legs he un9ipped his .eans and let the! fall to the floor. )e rubbed -hoebe*s clit with the tip of his penis before slowly sliding it into her "agina. Darc growled under his breath going deeper with each thrust. -hoebe wrapped her legs around hi! she was already on the "erge of cli!a@ing and she sensed so was Darc. ?ith one last deep thrust they both orgas!ed together -hoebe clenched the !uscles of her "agina tight around Darc*s penis s'uee9ing out e"ery last drop. 0rowling and panting Darc put his ar!s around -hoebe and held her tightly. 3$e@t ti!e it will be as de!ons5 As Darc lifted -hoebe off the worktop a loud "oice boo!ed out fro! the sitting roo!. 3-hoebe45 3# think #*"e been su!!oned5 She 'uickly tidied her clothing. 3Thank you Darc45
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3The pleasure was all !ine -hoebe5 She s!iled at hi! as she hurried out of the kitchen. -hoebe walked into the sitting roo! and found (a!es in his de!on for! stood in the !iddle of the roo!. )is anger was so intense that she had to take a step back. She watched as he transfor!ed back to hu!an and got dressed knowing it was better if she didn*t ask what was wrong but wait for (a!es to tell her. -ouring a large drink -hoebe offered it to (a!es who knocked it straight back then sat down his eyes still bla9ing red. 3Sit down -hoebe5 Still feeling his rage she cautiously sat down ne@t to hi! he put his ar! around her shoulder and pulled her to hi!. 3# ha"e found the de!on responsible for our deaths. Cntering the "oid # was able to trace hi! but # ha"e not yet su!!oned hi!5 3#s he one of #sabella*s de!ons65 3$o the de!on is Sa!uel5 -hoebe gasped in shock. 3Eo you think Sa!uel is aware of what he did65 3-ossibly not )unter will ha"e found a way to ensure he re!ains silent. But it !eans that # cannot su!!on hi! to get the proof we need5 3#f we draw hi! away fro! )unter could his !e!ory be accessed65 3?ell we*d need a good reason to ask hi! to "isit us4 without )unter5

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3Could you ask Scott to gi"e you further proof independent of #sabella65 3That !ight raise suspicions # showed total indifference when he ga"e !e the infor!ation. #*! going to see if # can find a way to su!!on Sa!uel to speak to !e in the "oid when # first went to )unters he see!ed "ery percepti"e of !y thoughts5 -hoebe slowly got to her feet. 3#*ll lea"e you to it4but wake !e if you need !e5 She bent down and kissed (a!es before lea"ing the roo!.

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-hoebe woke up early and went downstairs she found (a!es sat in the kitchen nursing a cup of coffee he looked like he hadn*t slept all night. 3Eid you ha"e any luck65 3#*! not sure so!ething isn*t right # contacted Sa!uel but # sensed that he was different to the Sa!uel # know5 3(a!es that doesn*t !ake sense5 3# know45 3(a!es4get so!e rest we can !anage without you for a few hours.5 3Alright can you !ake arrange!ents for the party as soon as possible preferably this Saturday bribe the! if you ha"e to45 3;es lea"e it with !e4now go before you fall asleep on the table5 (a!es slowly dragged hi!self to his feet and kissed -hoebe on the cheek before lea"ing the kitchen. As -hoebe was !aking herself a cup of coffee she heard 0arry and Dark co!ing downstairs she rushed through into

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the hall. 3:uiet (a!es has only .ust gone to bed5 They silently !ade their way down the stairs and followed -hoebe through to the kitchen where she !ade both of the! a cup of coffee. 3?e*re going to be ha"ing a party # know it*s short notice but this Saturday. So if you*ll both e@cuse !e # ha"e a lot of work to do5 0arry put his hand on -hoebe*s ar!. 3#f you need any help45 3Thanks what do you think to a big hog roast and a large !ar'uee for the bar65 3Sounds perfect what is the party for65 3-art house war!ing and part K!eet the su!!oner*5 3# presu!e only )unter and his de!ons will be attending65 3;es but #*"e been thinking about that it !ight be wise to ask )unter to select .ust a hundred of his de!ons the "illage !ight not be safe if there are !ore than that5 -hoebe grinned. 3?ell that will start another war for sure they*ll all want to co!e5 3#*! sure )unter can sort it out5 +ea"ing the kitchen -hoebe went through to the study. Sitting down at the desk she accessed the internet to find a catering co!pany. C"entually she found one and after !aking sure they had no connection to the one #sabella used sent the! an e!ail detailing her re'uire!ents.
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She only had two days to !ake all the arrange!ents -hoebe started to !ake a list of e"erything that needed to be done. The phone rang looking at the nu!ber she knew it was the caterers she picked it up. 3Sheringbourne Rectory5 3#s that -hoebe )a!pson65 3;es5 3#*! Andrew Dardene #*"e .ust recei"ed your e!ail #*! sorry but we can*t possible arrange anything for Saturday5 -hoebe took a deep breath. 3?ell can you gi"e !e a price at the "ery least65 3<or the hog roast and the !ar'uee including a range of drinks twel"e hundred pounds5 3So if # were to offer you two thousand pounds would you be able to arrange it for Saturday65 3#*d need to hire in so!e e@tra staff and e'uip!ent call it two thousand fi"e hundred and we ha"e a deal5 3Agreed5 30ood #*ll send you an e!ail confir!ing the price and how you can pay the deposit. # look forward to seeing you on Saturday5 3Thanks Andrew5 -hoebe put the phone down and breathed a sigh of relief.

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As -hoebe worked on the arrange!ents for the party there was a knock at the door she looked up as 0arry ca!e in closing the door behind hi!. 3A guy calling hi!self Sa!uel is here to see (a!es and before you ask no he*s not )unter*s dri"er though he da!n well looks identical5 3Alright take hi! through to the sitting roo! and keep your eye on hi! # guess #*d better go and wake (a!es5 -hoebe waited for a !o!ent before lea"ing the study then ran upstairs to (a!es* roo!. Sitting on the side of the bed -hoebe gently shook hi! he growled as he opened his eyes and looked up at her. 3<or fucks sake # barely get to sleep and you wake !e up there had better be a good reason5 3There is Sa!uel is downstairs and according to 0arry it*s not )unter*s dri"er5 (a!es sat bolt upright. 3Shit alright go and wait downstairs #*ll be down in a !inute5

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-hoebe ran back downstairs and through to the sitting roo!. 3,> 0arry you can lea"e now thank you5 As 0arry left the roo! -hoebe sat down facing Sa!uel. 3#*! -hoebe (a!es is on his way down5 Sa!uel s!iled. 3# look forward to !eeting the su!!oner again after all these centuries5 -hoebe growled causing Sa!uel to look at her 'ui99ically. 3;ou are his lo"er aren*t you65 3Eon*t you re!e!ber65 Sa!uel*s s!ile was chilling. 3;es4yes # do5 The door flew open (a!es entered and sat down ne@t to -hoebe looking at Sa!uel closely. 3;ou*re the bastard that !urdered us aren*t you65 3As # .ust confir!ed to -hoebe4yes # a! he5 3?ho are you really because the Sa!uel # know is )unter*s dri"er4yet you look identical45 3#sn*t it ob"ious we are twins !y brother who works for )unter is actually called Si!on. ,ur father was a de!on fiercely loyal to )unter. Because of our father we were both transfor!ed at an early age. ?hen # started accessing !y !e!ories and found out that centuries ago #*d been ordered to kill the su!!oner # told !y father. )e confronted )unter who dis!issed it as a child*s fantasy but !y father sensed otherwise he knew that at so!e point )unter would de!and that # ser"e hi! and effecti"ely be silenced5

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Sa!uel took a deep breath before continuing. 3The last ti!e # saw !y father ali"e was when he sent !e abroad to li"e with a fa!ily friend e@changing !ine and !y brother*s na!es. Si!on !anaged to send a letter to !e telling !e that our father had been killed by de!ons who clai!ed they were loyal to #sabella. But both of us knew the truth and as Si!on was now without fa!ily )unter was !ore than willingly to take the child he belie"ed to be !e under his wing. 3# ha"en*t been back in this country long # returned to seek re"enge and when you su!!oned !e4# ca!e. # know what # was responsible for centuries ago but let !e assure both of you # do not wish to carry out a repeat perfor!ance. $o # now seek re"enge on )unter for the death of !y father5 (a!es briefly glanced at -hoebe before turning to Sa!uel. 3?hy wasn*t )unter aware that your father had twins65 3)e was our !other died due to co!plications during our birth. So !y father said he was sending Si!on to be raised by a fa!ily friend lea"ing hi! to raise the other child Sa!uel. )unter ne"er suspected that it was in fact the other way round. And the fa!ily friend # went to li"e with ne"er contested )unter*s clai! to raise !y brother knowing it would be better to let hi! think he had Sa!uel under his control5 (a!es sat and thought for a !o!ent before replying. 3?ell you*ll ha"e your chance for re"enge on Saturday we*re ha"ing a party and plan to confront )unter. But understand this Sa!uel # want you to keep well out of the
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way until the !o!ent of re"elation do # !ake !yself clear65 3;es you su!!oned !e and # a! here to ser"e # shall do whate"er you ask of !e5 (a!es got to his feet. 30ood now # a! going to get so!e rest. -hoebe can you sort out a roo! for Sa!uel and tell 0arry and Darc they are not to discuss his presence here with anyone5 3?hat do # tell the! if they ask any 'uestions65 3That # shall e@plain e"erything in due course5 ?ith that (a!es left the sitting roo!.

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Saturday !orning. As soon as (a!es got out of bed he could feel the tension in the air it !ade the hairs at the back of his neck stand on end. )e had told 0arry and Darc the full story about Sa!uel and what he and -hoebe planned to do with )unter. There had also been so!e good news fro! Eetecti"e #nspector Brough +i9 had been found and although ali"e she had needed hospital treat!ent. The police were planning a full in"estigation into what had happened at the grange and #sabella had been taken in for 'uestioning and released under house arrest. After getting dressed (a!es went downstairs the back door was open and he could see the caterers were already at work erecting the !ar'uee closely watched by -hoebe. )er te!per had got shorter the nearer it got to the party. (a!es was surprised that she hadn*t transfor!ed to a de!on. To sa"e e@plaining the!sel"es to the caterers it had been agreed that they would lea"e at eight in the e"ening. They were reluctant at first to lea"e their e'uip!ent behind but

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-hoebe4and a certain a!ount of cash4soon persuaded the!. (a!es went o"er to !ake hi!self a cup of coffee wondering if a glass of whisky !ight not be a better idea. 3<ucking caterers if they don*t get that !ar'uee sorted out #*ll45 Turning round (a!es saw -hoebe stood in the doorway with her hands on her hips. )e walked o"er to -hoebe and wrapped his ar!s around her. (a!es held her close and ran his fingers through her hair. 3(ust rela@ e"erything is on schedule let the! do their .ob and stop !aking the! ner"ous5 -hoebe rested her head on (a!es* chest. 3#*! .ust stressed out there*s a lot at stake tonight and if it all goes wrong45 (a!es put a finger on her lips. 3#t won*t go wrong we ha"e e"erything planned let !e take the worry on !y shoulders5 3)ow do you !anage to stay so cal!45 (a!es kissed -hoebe before she could say any!ore. 3C@cuse !e45 -hoebe looked round it was one of the caterers. 3?hat now65 3# was .ust going to say that the !ar'uee is up and we*re .ust organising the bar4if you want to o"ersee the work45 (a!es let -hoebe go and heard her growl faintly under her breath. 3#*! on !y way5

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-hoebe followed the caterer out of the kitchen. (a!es was .ust finishing his coffee when 0arry ca!e into the kitchen. 3Darc*s .ust tri!!ing the last few shrubs now we*"e got it all cut back there*ll be plenty of roo! for cars though so!e !ight still ha"e to park in the lane5 3Thanks can you go and help -hoebe deal with the caterers otherwise we*ll ha"e a ra!paging de!on on our hands5 0arry laughed. 3Sure no proble!5 After 0arry had left (a!es went to find Sa!uel trying the sitting roo! first he found hi! sat in the chair with his eyes closed. 3Sa!uel45 )e .u!ped and turned to face (a!es growling under his breath. 3Sorry you startled !e5 3# .ust want to check that you know what to do tonight5 3;es stay in !y roo! until you !ake your announce!ent4then !o"e in for the kill45 (a!es glared at hi!. 3Alright not e@actly the kill straight away45 3Sa!uel #*! warning you step out of line and you could blow e"erything apart5 3Trust !e (a!es # understand co!pletely what # ha"e to do. Tonight sees the end of )unter*s reign as guardian and re"enge for !y father5
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Saturday night. (a!es welco!ed the de!ons and took the! out into the garden )unter wasn*t due to arri"e until after the caterers had left. That had been arranged so e"ery de!on would ha"e the chance to transfor! and greet hi! accordingly. #t had been agreed that -hoebe would stay out of the way until after )unter had arri"ed she was waiting with Sa!uel in his bedroo!. -hoebe was restlessly pacing up and down the roo! Sa!uel held on to her wrist tightly. 3;ou*re beginning to !ake !e ner"ous5 She looked at hi! and s!iled (a!es was right Sa!uel did look angelic it was hard to belie"e that he was the de!on responsible for killing the! both all those centuries ago. 3#t*s !y de!on it wants to unleash5 -hoebe looked out of the window to the party below. 3All those de!ons # ha"e a right to be there5 Sa!uel put his ar! around her shoulders. 3;our ti!e will co!e -hoebe let*s try and stay cal! for each other. This will be the only opportunity to re"eal )unter

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for what he really is a killer5 3)e would ne"er ha"e got away with it if the council hadn*t been disbanded sending the Daster back into the "oid5 3?ell !aybe that is so!ething you and (a!es could consider refor!ing it isn*t right for all the power to rest with a guardian5 3#t was so!ething (a!es and # discussed it would certainly keep #sabella in check though # do ha"e concerns about the Daster returning5 3Re!e!ber that # know what you were both like centuries ago and fro! what #*"e sensed so far you*re e"en !ore powerful now. $o de!on would cross either one of you.5 -hoebe s!iled. 3# can hardly belie"e what (a!es has beco!e4# knew hi! first as (a!ie before he went through transfor!ation you wouldn*t belie"e it was the sa!e person5 3That was when you worked for #sabella wasn*t it65 3)ow do you know about that65 3#*"e been obser"ing for 'uite a while # needed to know what the current situation was. #f it hadn*t been for (a!es #*d ha"e probably sided with #sabella .ust to bring )unter down5 3#t was you that told #sabella the truth wasn*t it65 3;es but !y ai! was only to seek re"enge for the death of !y father. ,nce #sabella had ser"ed her purpose # would ha"e dealt with her accordingly5 3# ha"e to wonder if you can really be trusted Sa!uel5 3#*! an assassin -hoebe4but both you and (a!es can trust !e # will ser"e the su!!oner willingly5
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3And what about Si!on what do you think his reaction will be65 3#*! not sure depends on how !uch )unter has fucked with his !ind5 -hoebe glanced at the clock by the side of the bed before long the caterers would be lea"ing and it would be ti!e for )unter*s grand entrance4and e@it.

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-hoebe and Sa!uel watched out of the window as the caterers left. Then on (a!es* signal all the de!ons transfor!ed and gathered around in a large circle with (a!es in the centre he wouldn*t transfor! until )unter .oined hi!. Slowly a path way opened in the circle and )unter !ade his way through. 3# guess it*s ti!e for us to play our part Sa!uel5 -hoebe took Sa!uel*s hand and left the roo!. #n the centre of the circle (a!es stood facing )unter. 3)unter # welco!e you to !y party5 3Thank you though # sense this isn*t purely for pleasure5 All the de!ons were watching curious as to why )unter and (a!es hadn*t transfor!ed. 3;ou are 'uite correct5 (a!es looked round at all the de!ons standing e@pectantly. 3)unter it is ti!e for you to answer for your cri!es5 )e threw back his head and laughed.

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3# a! a guardian # ha"e co!!itted no cri!es5 (a!es signalled for -hoebe to .oin hi! once again the de!ons stood back to allow her through she stood by (a!es* side. 3Dany centuries ago you ordered the assassination of the first su!!oner. $ot only because you were en"ious of his powers but you also co"eted his lo"er you wanted to own her possess her for yourself. Sadly she also died at the hands of the assassin4but now45 -hoebe slipped her dress off and transfor!ed to her de!on self. 3She has returned to !e5 )unter stared at -hoebe in disbelief she walked o"er to hi! and put her hand on his face. 3Eo you re!e!ber !e )unter65 3?hat the fuck4(a!es what ha"e you done65 3Bought !y lo"er back to !e. So are you still clai!ing that you had no part in our assassination65 3;es you ha"e no proof5 3Ah but # do4Sa!uel45 )unter turned to his dri"er who walked o"er to the!. 3(a!es #*! sorry but # cannot gi"e you the proof you re'uire4# ha"e no !e!ory of45 3,f course you don*t )unter has !ade sure of that but of course you ne"er had the !e!ory in the first place did you Si!on65 There was now a lot of growling and !uttering a!ongst the de!ons. )unter stared at his dri"er.

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3Si!on65 Behind the! Sa!uel slowly !ade his way into the centre of the circle. 3;es he is Si!on4# a! Sa!uel5 )unter swung round to face hi!. 3But4this isn*t possible4all these years45 3;es )unter it is Si!on you ha"e been so carefully guarding to !ake sure the truth ne"er got out. But now it is ti!e to re"eal e"erything5 Si!on walked o"er to his brother and put his hand on his chest neither of the! needed to say a word the bond between the twins was absolute. (a!es turned to face )unter. 3# think it is ti!e we transfor!ed before we hear the truth5 After (a!es and )unter had transfor!ed Sa!uel did likewise. ?ith Si!on by his side Sa!uel looked around at the de!ons knowing that (a!es was watching )unter closely he prepared to re"eal the truth.

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Sa!uel took a deep breath. 3,ur father Raul was fiercely loyal to )unter. As a child # told hi! of a !e!ory that #*d had as an assassin of being ordered to kill the first su!!oner. Those orders were gi"en to !e by )unter. Raul confronted )unter who dis!issed it as childish i!agination. But suspecting that )unter intended to silence !e Raul sent !e abroad4as Si!on4while !y brother took !y place. 3#t was )unter that ordered the assassination of our father and then took Si!on under his wing assu!ing it to be !e thus ensuring that the truth would ne"er be known. But # ha"e now returned to seek re"enge for our father. #f anyone of you doubt !y word4please step forward and challenge !e now5 $ot one of the de!ons !o"ed instincti"ely Sa!uel and Si!on stepped back out of the way lea"ing (a!es and -hoebe facing )unter. 3So )unter it would appear that you are guilty as charged5 0rowling and baring his teeth )unter lunged towards

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(a!es who pushed -hoebe out of the way. She went and stood with Sa!uel and Si!on and watched as (a!es and )unter circled around each other. )unter !anaged to claw (a!es across his chest lea"ing a large gash -hoebe gasped but Sa!uel held on to her ar!. 3;ou !ust let the! fight this alone it is not for us to defend either of the! this fight is to the death5 #n the blink of an eye (a!es slashed )unter across his face the fighting was so fast and furious it was al!ost a blur both of the! clawing and biting each other until finally (a!es grabbed hold of )unter by his throat. 3;our reign as guardian ends now )unter5 #n one swift !o"e (a!es put his hand on )unter*s head and gi"ing it one sharp twist snapped his neck. (a!es let go and as )unter*s body slu!ped to the floor there was a spine chilling howl as his de!on broke free of it*s !ortal for! and disappeared back into the "oid. -hoebe rushed o"er to (a!es who was co"ered in claw and bite !arks he put his ar! around her shoulders and leaned on her. 3Eoes anyone else wish to challenge !e65 (a!es snarled as he looked around at the de!ons they all took a respectful step back. 3Then it is !y duty as su!!oner to declare who is to succeed )unter as guardian5 (a!es turned to -hoebe. 3+et it be known that fro! this day forth -hoebe )a!pson is the guardian. And further!ore we shall be
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reinstating the council to !anage all de!on affairs5 Sa!uel and Si!on walked o"er to .oin the! as loud cheers rang out all around the!. (a!es held up his hand for silence. 3#n honour of Sa!uel and Si!on*s father # would like to in"ite the! to take their place on the council other !e!bers will be infor!ed of their place in due course5 ?ith that the de!ons knew that the party was o"er and all transfor!ed back to hu!an appearance. Two of the! walked o"er to (a!es. 3?ould you like us to dispose of the body65 (a!es nodded. 3;es thank you5 )e knew that they would arrange for a suitable accident to e@plain )unter*s death.

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After e"eryone had left (a!es and -hoebe took Sa!uel and Si!on through to the sitting roo!. 3Are you both happy with taking a seat on the council65 Sa!uel glanced at Si!on indicating that he could speak for both of the!. 3;es it will be an honour and a fitting tribute to our father thank you (a!es5 3Eo you bear any grudge against !e for killing )unter65 3$one at all # ha"e !y brother back and # a! free of )unter*s o"erbearing presence. And of course # a! set to inherit his estate # think it*s all worked out 'uite nicely5 Si!on s!iled. 3(a!es45 )e turned to -hoebe. 3?hat*s wrong65 3#*! not sure4#*"e got to45 -hoebe got to her feet slipped her dress off and transfor!ed to de!on. Then (a!es started to sense it too and 'uickly got undressed before transfor!ing and standing ne@t

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to -hoebe as a grey !ist appeared in front of the!. Sa!uel and Si!on could only watch as the !ist coalesced into de!onic for! and towered o"er -hoebe and (a!es who both fell to their knees and bowed their heads. 3Daster4we are your loyal ser"ants5 The de!on*s "oice was deep and boo!ed around the roo!. 30et to your feet5 -hoebe and (a!es stood up but kept their heads bowed. 3So (a!es you saw it fit to na!e -hoebe as )unter*s successor without consulting !e first45 3Daster you ha"en*t been seen since the council was disbanded4no offence was intended5 3So you presu!ed that without a Daster you were at liberty to take charge for yourself did you65 3That was not !y intent # a! actually intending to refor! the council and45 The Daster started to laugh. 3+ook at !e (a!es5 $er"ously he looked up at the Daster. 3Eid you not realise that as the su!!oner once you decided to create a new council that "ery act would su!!on !e to return here65 3# did not consider it an act of su!!oning5 3?ell it is done and # shall once again lead the council5 3A! # right in assu!ing that it was )unter*s suggestion that the council be disbanded65 3;es your reFe!ergence as su!!oner was no accident it

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was part of a chain of e"ents # set in !otion in the "oid. # knew that )unter was planning on beco!ing Daster and # could not allow that to happen. ;ou ha"e indirectly been under !y guidance (a!es and now # e@pect you to ser"e by !y side5 (a!es was stunned by this latest re"elation and was beginning to wonder if getting rid of )unter had been such a good idea. 3And what of -hoebe65 3?hat of her6 There is no need for a guardian now # ha"e returned let her ser"e you as you see fit5 -hoebe growled under her breath the Daster turned and stared at her. 3# hope you are not challenging !y decision -hoebe5 She a"erted her eyes. 3$o Daster5 30ood4(a!es # shall allow you to choose who you wish to sit on the council Sa!uel and Si!on are an e@cellent first choice. $ow # ha"e an old friend whose ac'uaintance # wish to renew #*! sure #sabella will be pleased to see !e5 The Daster slowly disappeared back into the !ist. (a!es and -hoebe both transfor!ed and got dressed -hoebe went to pour so!e drinks as (a!es sat down. Si!on looked at hi! with concern. 3Eare # ask if you*re thinking the sa!e thing as !e65 3# a!4!aybe it wasn*t such a good idea killing )unter5 -hoebe ga"e e"eryone their drinks and sat down ne@t to (a!es.
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3And #*! already out of a .ob before #*"e e"en started5 3#*! sorry -hoebe although # suspected the Daster would return when the council was recreated # ne"er e@pected this all that ti!e in the "oid hasn*t done !uch for his rage5 3Dy concern is what he is going to see #sabella for # think we !ight be in e"en deeper shit now45 3# think you !ay be right -hoebe but for now we are going to ha"e to play this by the rules and see what transpires5 (a!es realised that the tension he*d sensed at the beginning of the day had nothing to do with the party it was all about the Daster*s return and now there was nothing he could do about it. )is future now lay in the Daster*s hands.

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