Welcome to Gaia! ::

Mandy did her best to smile at her clientele and employees that crossed her path up to the second floor. Many greeted her with "Hi, Miss Young..." to which she replied with a nod and continued to storm up the stairs in her high heels. Really, it would have been smarter to take the elevator, but the lines were so long and she really didn't want to be squeezed in with smelly commoners. Plus every step helped to drain away some of her bad mood, so by the time she came to the office the brunette was much more in control of her emotions. It didn't stop the shaking however as she lifted a hand and knocked on the office door for permission to enter.

While she waited, the need to straighten out the lines of her black pencil skirt was strong. She pulled the hem down as far as it would cover, which wasn't very far, and made sure she had fastened every button on her white blouse. She had gotten dressed so fast it wouldn't surprise her to find she'd missed something. The young woman hadn't even had time to put on her make-up, and that was a sure sign that something was wrong. The Bordello Madam also worried about the welfare of Grigsby. Obviously he couldn't die but she was pretty sure there were worse torments than death.

" 'm sorry Grigsby...."

At the sound of the knock, both Mischa and Theros glanced over at the door. For a moment he waited to see if Mi would get it but then realized that since he was on his feet, she was waiting for him to open it. Shaking his head in amusement at her expression, he moved towards the door.

"Ah, Mandy. What can we do for you?" he asked, a grin on his face as he watched her a moment. It was obvious she was annoyed about something.

Mischa glanced towards the door watching as it was opened. Then she turned her attention back to the set of papers she had been looking over. Three she sorted out so that she could call them and order twice as many of their lights. Their substitutions were actually going to work better than the previous order.

"Might as well have a seat. I've been meaning to talk to you anyhow. Just been trying to get everything else done. Grim with you too? He should know too since there's at least twice as many hounds here now."

"Ohhh let me tell ya all about it and then we'll see what you can do for me..." A smile was in place when she walked in past Theros, but her voice painted a more sarcastic image. One she had meant to hide since these were her bosses, but she really couldn't muster up the patience to care. She was due a little bitchyness after the morning she had survived.

Miss Young took a seat on the other side of the desk, crossing her legs in front of Mischa. "Eh yeah... the thing about Grim is--well it's kind of a long story. Okay..." The brunette took a deep breath, collecting her thoughts. "Someone was in my room last night, at midnight, in the corner tweaking out or some s**t and like I... you know I got up and took--well I have this bat under my bed, in case of ... emergencies--I took the bat to threaten him and... he ********' disappeared when I swung at him. It wasn't a dream. I know what I saw and I know I wasn't still asleep. And then my TV started freaking out and, Oh my God, there was blood coming out of the remote and the TV and--and then there was this voice and this face in the... the screen. Okay and then! I called Grim and there was still blood on my hands from the remote and he licked it and started hacking. Then he disappeared and.... yeah... I dunno, can demons get sick?" Now that she had summarized her morning, it sounded like the delusions of the deranged. s**t.

Mi and Theros glanced at one another. "No." Mischa agreed. "It was not a dream. I know what it is and some of what is going on. I don't know if demons can get sick but things have happened twice to me."

"First, this is about the daemon shop and those there. Her name is Sibyl van Helsing and she's a hunter. Someone has been trying to warn us. I'm not entirely certain yet who it is. I have met her- this hunter. She almost killed me the other day. She attacked me and Kyrie interrupted which is why the poor kid got shot, but she saved my life. Sibyl is the daughter of Gabriel van Helsing. Her father killed Tae-yul's sister and she killed his parents. There's a great deal of enmity between the two. She's not just a hunter though, Mandy, she's also a summoner which means she has an ability to teleport due to her demon."

Theros nodded as he sat back down with them. "That's why the mirrors are coming down or being covered. She can get information that way according to Kyrie. And Tae said to keep everything well lit and to stay out of heavy shadows. Another reason for the changes here at the casino."

"Asmodeus called more hounds also to patrol. The first warning was someone sitting in my room muttering and the second someone had been in room and left a scrap of fabric with a blood stain on it. This girl can't be much older than I am, Mandy, but she's good. She's aiming to kill Edward, Tae-yul, and Hae-min. I thought the rest of us were just caught between them, but I suspect when she's finished with them, she figures the rest of us will be easy to pick off." Mischa added after a moment. "That is so not going to happen. I'm wanting to safeguard this place more and then I'm going to see if I can't help Edward and the rest."

She frowned. "As for Grim, have you tried calling him back? If he is sick, then we need to see to him."

Mandy was visibly relieved that the pair believed her and had had their own experiences with this... whatever it was. Though the fact that it was something outside the realm of the demons in this casino didn't sit well with her. Nor did the news succeeding.

"I see..." The brunette commented flatly. This wasn't the first time her life had been in jeopardy and it certainly wouldn't be the last, not as long as she could see to it. It was something you grew to expect in this line of work and, for Mandy, something enjoyable. No, the thing that truly disturbed her was that The Tempest had to take measures in order to keep themselves safe. And these were demons that needed saving. What did that say for the employees who were human? Nothing that would bode well that was for sure. "I'll make sure my ladies take precautions, keep an eye out for any strange activity. Can you give me a description of her?" Mandy had a bad habit of underestimating women and their "skills", so the least she could do was to make sure not to insult the right girl if they crossed paths accidentally.

"Uh, yeah, let me try again... Grim. Grim, please come...." She waited a moment before trying again. "For Theros and Mischa, they would like to speak with you..." That got his attention apparently since a giant pocket of smoke enveloped the room and congealed into the giant bear of a dog, Grim. His tongue was lolling out of his mouth, licking fervently at his jowls as he panted.

" I'm fine. It'll pass..." Grim's guttural voice boomed between licks. His big blood red eyes looked over at Mandy, who was staring back at him. Her face was a mask of indifference, but he knew she felt guilty. The affection would be heart-warming if he had a soul.

His thick ears sat up on his head at the mention of this new villainy. "A hunter..." The both of them were frustrated with this new limitation. The shadows were their playground too, especially Grim now that Mandy could no longer use her super powers. He was her connection to the darkness and he did his job well, but he wasn't ******** with a hunter.

"Wait--wait, what is a hunter exactly?" These "warnings" were all well and good, but they didn't help much if she was ignorant of what was hunting them.

"He's asleep," said a sepulchral voice. The door unlocked, and then opened; the woman behind it was skeletal, barely human in appearance. Her skin was dry, cracked, spread over obvious bones. "What is so important?" The smell--sulfur underlaid it, but much more overpowering was the scent of burnt offerings, the smells of spices and cooked meat. This person was not human; and yet, she seemed not to be a demon either. Her hair hung lankly over her shoulders--and her eyes were the same shade as Edward's.

"What is it you want? Shop hours begin at five."

Martel gave her a baleful stare and turned to disappear into the stacks. She would not help someone so... rude. "Wake him yourself, then. Upstairs, second door on the right." And she faded into the stacks of books.

Upstairs was dark; oppressively so, in fact. The floors were hard wood, the walls covered in intricately detailed paper. The entire area screamed Victorian sensibilities. Off to the right was a small kitchen, and on a side counter a pot of coffee had begun to run. There was a box of poptarts open on the counter; the space gave an implication of someone having just left. In fact, if Mischa listened, there was the sound of running water...

The second door on the left was open a little bit, and if the redheaded woman looked inside--

Well, she did. And there was Edward, alive, breathing, unharmed--and asleep, shirtless, peaceful. His bed was small, wedged into the corner under a window; the rest of the room (it was so small!) held a dresser, with the top drawer slightly open, the sleeve of a sweater no one had ever seen him wear hanging out. On top of it, there was a line of photographs--

Edward, young, with two people who looked like his parents. Edward, a little older, with someone who looked like an younger Tae-yul and the woman downstairs. A picture of Edward bending down to kiss a dark-haired girl in a white sundress--Hae-min, maybe?

--and then a line of books, none of them with titles in a language Mischa could read. The walls were empty of decoration, and the rug on the floor had been rolled back to allow for a line of salt across the space.

He seemed oblivious to her entrance--just sleeping, blissfully unaware of the world.

Edward woke up without a jolt, just opened one eye and said, in a voice made hoarse by sleep, "Good morning, Mischa. To what do I owe the pleasure?" He didn't sit up for a moment, looking to the old-fashioned alarm clock on the tiny nightstand. "At two in the morning? Truly?"

The man didn't comment further, just sat up and made room for Mischa on his bed. "Warn me of what," he said patiently, patting the side of the bed nearest his pillow.

The casino was mostly quiet as she walked around the floor though it was lit far more than normal. The patrons were gambling, the lights were up, the mirrors gone, and the shows were still going on, but there was an air of expectation sliding through. An expectation of trouble. Perhaps it was just she who noted it. Perhaps not. Theros was never far away now and there were three times as many guards as before. He and Asmo had been holding all the interviews for which she was thankful, but it just seemed odd to have so many around.

Even the customers glanced around at seeing so many employees wandering around constantly watching. Some it made nervous while others never seemed to notice other than that first glance.

Finally Mischa moved towards the entrance. She needed to check on rooms and to make sure everything was going as planned for the elite customers that were there. Perhaps then she would go to the showroom and get something to eat while she watched. She could definitely use a drink.

It seemed rather odd. There had been no fights. No complaints. Strange.

But the demons there did not lessen their patrols or tenseness due to the quietness of the customers. They continued following Asmo's orders to the letter. He had made it plain he would accept nothing less. Maybe nothing would happen. Maybe something would. Either way, they were prepared.

As she walked towards the showroom, Mischa stopped one of the waitresses.

"I want something to eat and my usual red wine, Meli." she stated as she moved towards her table. The show was just starting.

"Coming right up, Miss Renaue`." Moving quickly, she headed towards the kitchen to place the order.

Mischa glanced back as the man when he asked about the restaurant. "It's closed because the shows are open tonight. Food can be served in there." For a moment she hesitated, but then she saw the hunter. The pack of hounds were watching him warily as much as the man in front of her. This man was a summoner.

Instead of continuing forwards, she said, "Meli, he can order whatever he likes from the kitchen. See that it's brought with my order. I apologize. Most people know that when the shows are on that everyone eats there. It gives them time to clean here. Being open 24 hours a day does not leave much time for things like that."

"Forgive me. I've not introduced myself. My name is Mischa Renaue`. I own the Tempest." she smiled warmly. "If you want, you may share my table. I'm going in to watch the show. It's been a rough day. Rough several days actually with adding lights and removing mirrors." She indicated he follow her as she commented. "Ignore the pack of hounds. Asmodeus put them here for my protection."

"Pleased to meet you both, but call me Mischa. Prince Asmodeus is my contract. That's one reason there are so many here, though most people do not see them." she murmurred as they continued walking towards the table. Mischa waited to explain until they were sitting down at her table which was slightly separate from the rest and with the best view of the show. Many times she needed to talk to patrons or others without anyone eavesdropping on the conversations.

"The show is a musical done with the showgirls and some actors that I hired. Various skits, and then a stand-up comedian afterwards." she laughed then admitted. "I was just planning on propping my feet up a few minutes while I had something to eat. Trying to escape and hide out for a few minutes."

"You must not know." Mischa frowned slightly before asking him, "Have you been to the Daemonologie shop, Irving? Or have you had any strange occurances at night? If so, it's not just you. Many of the summoners have been having odd things happen. I went to talk to Edward and found out a bit more." She would have continued but the waitress delivered their glasses of wine. For a long moment Mischa stared at the large plant in the opposite corner of the area. A frown crossed her face as she watched the shadow, but then turned back to Irving to reply. Maybe it was just her nerves.

"I decided it was best to add alot more lighting and to get rid of all the mirrors I could. I made the excuse that it was for security reasons and to prevent any trouble. And the mirrors reflect too much, so they are being taken down also. Of course, all the demons and the employees that know about them all know the real reason why it is being done. I can at least tell you what I know."Taking a sip of her wine, she watched he and Hunter for a few moments. They did not seem to know anything was going on. Perhaps it was a good thing they had come here.

"I know exactly what is happening so far." Mischa stated with a great deal of certainty. "A daemon hunter is trying to kill Edward, Hae-min, and Tae-yul. We are the trap she plans to use to draw them out."

"Edward said the image the other night was a warning of some sort but he was uncertain who was warning us other than they spoke high Enoch which only the highest level demons even speak. This demon was warning us of the hunter, whose name is Sibyl van Hellsing and she's very good. The daughter of Gabriel van Hellsing from what I've been told. She's also a summoner and she can teleport. Anyhow this Sibyl killed Tae's parents but her father killed his sister. So there is alot of enmity there." Her explanation was perhaps shorted but it got to the point. That was what mattered.

Mischa shrugged, but smiled. "She planned to kill me as an example to Edward and Tae who are her real targets, but a friend of mine interrupted by walking through the door. Kyrie was shot in the shoulder instead. You might want to talk to Edward and Tae-yul but be very careful going there and leaving if you do. Tae said to remain out of heavy shadows and Kyrie seemed to know more. She was the one who said to cover the mirrors to prevent information being gathered that way."

She watched Irving and Hunter for a long moment. "I'm not sure how many others are involved. I know that a few others have come here. All I can say is to spread the information to whatever summoner you run into that does not know. Personally, if the shop goes under, the rest of us will be her targets next. I don't plan on letting that happen. Edward and Hae are friends. Tae and I tolerate one another but still I don't want to see anything happen to any of them."

Staring at the shadow in the corner, Mischa glanced around at the other corners. She was so nervous of shadows and mirrors now- imagining movement when there was none, but this had to be stopped. Sibyl had to be stopped. But where would she pop out next?

Mischa was right to have been wary.

The leaves of the plant were icing, slowly, shriveling and falling into nothingness. At the edge of the shadow, bone white fingers curled around the edges of the shadow, black nails dug into the wall, tearing gouges in the wood. Armor glinted on the back of the hand, and then the figure pulled itself entirely into view.

She was beautiful. Her face, aristocratic and pale, highlighting her bloody red eyes, the black lips, the black hair that fell like sheets of ice. She wore armor on her left arm, on her torso; she was armed, blade at her side, silver thread embroidery along the pommel. Black fabric pooled on the floor, falling from her hips. Her skin sparkled like ice in the sunlight. Calmly, without attention to the summoners, she adjusted the armor on the back of her hand, and then she approached.

Evidently no one could see her save Mischa, Irving and their respective bound demons; the guards weren't reacting, sliding past her like she wasn't even there. "I am Zuleika," said the armored demon; she stopped out of reach of the humans, hands linked behind her back. "I seek Asmodeus, for he has a debt which must be paid to me, and there is a warning which I must give."

As the room got colder, Mi blinked, staring at the demoness, but finally nodded to her. If this Zuleika meant her harm, she would have already done so, no? No reason not to be polite then. And it was all the more interesting that Asmodeus owed her.

"Zuleika, I am Mischa. This is Irving and Hunter. Don't worry, Hunter. I know him." she introduced briefly, then growled, "Asmodeus, get in here. Now."

The demon prince glanced over from where he stood with Theros. There was an intrusion and he could feel it. Then he heard Mischa.

"Theros, come with me. The showroom." He knew precisely where Mischa was and most likely that was the intrusion as well. Vanishing, he reappeared just beside Mischa. A faint twitch appeared. "Zuleika, my love. Beautiful as ever. Have you come to stay?" Asmodeus wanted her to remain. His eyes gazed from her feet upwards, lingering on her face.

"Or have you come to kill me?" he asked remembering their last confrontation. He had not defended himself at all. Here he would have to.

Mischa blinked then asked, "Kill you? Great. Let me guess.. you pissed her off too? I swear, Asmo, is there anyone you do not make angry?"

The demon prince shrugged. "I wanted her here with me. It's as simple as that."

Theros was standing beside the pack of hounds that were always nearby. He could definitely see what Asmodeus saw in Zuleika, but he had no doubt looking at her that she would be a challenge to even the prince.

She looked to the Nameless demon, coldly; she said, adjusting the armor on her hand again, "Then do not speak." He bore a superficial resemblance to the man she sought, but not close enough to keep her attention for long. Just in case her point wasn't clear, she drew the silver sword and held it out, the tip of the razor-sharp blade resting in the air without wavering barely an inch from Irving's nose. "I have no interest in any demon but Asmodeus, and once I have collected my debt I will share my warning. Lest you have something of import to say, you will remain silent."

To Mischa, she added coldly, "As will you. I thank you for your assistance, but this is a matter of honor."

The sword was lowered, without a shake or tremor, to her side.

"Why would I want to stay," she snapped once Asmodeus arrived. "You took everything I wanted from me, you're hardly likely to replace my Queen--" She had worked so hard to replace Tenebrion as the Queen's Guard, and then see what had happened!

Her attention was drawn back to Mischa. "You've summoned this idiot? I pity you." That pity seemed to change something, she looked again to Irving and the hunter, calmly. "The Princess of Hell is in service to Sibyl van Helsing, by the way. That would be the message."

"She never summoned me." Asmodeus corrected. " We contracted after I was already here, but there was another contract that needs fulfilled and it was more important than how I got here. Or remained here. Simply that I did. I said there was more that you did not see. Even contracts from the time of Solomon still need fulfilled."

"And I have no intentions of replacing Lilith. I wanted you here as an equal, Zuleika, but you never see anything other than duty. You are worth more than mere servitude." Asmodeus admitted as he watched her still. She was beautiful and he wanted to pull her into his arms and carry her off inspite of those here now. But he was sure that would not happen for some time to come. She was still angry at him.

Mischa nodded, agreeing, "He's trouble, but I had more before he came. You are welcome here, Zuleika. To remain as long as you wish. Inspite of him." She glanced at Irving and Hunter a moment to see how they were taking all this information.

"Kyrie said that she was trying to protect us as best she could. And I'm guessing she wears gray silk. We need to find a way to protect Edward, Hae-min, and Tae-yul. I don't suppose you would remain, Zuleika, and help everyone out?" Asmodeus would be annoyed at the invitation. Mischa did not care. Zuleika might have the information needed to help everyone out and it was up to the demoness to decide.

"Is there any way to help the princess out of the contract she's under and circumvent Sibyl? Do you have a solution? She cannot be left to that hunter." She had no doubts that Zuleika could be of help in freeing the princess and getting rid of Sibyl. If enough of them banded together instead of running and hiding. She frowned, musing almost to herself. "Hm.... I wonder what Seere or Sam know. Or even Tenebrion and Mastipal."

Theros chuckled, drawing a glare from Asmodeus. The demon prince was scowling at Mischa as she mentioned going to others for information. Theros shrugged still amused. What could be done? Asmodeus had wanted her to get a backbone. Mischa had. The fact that it was going to be an irritant to the demon prince had never been discussed. Perhaps not even thought of.

Regarding the hunter, she smiled after a moment and said, "You guard your summoner well, even in the face of a stronger demon. Fear not. I won't raise my blade against those who bear no ill-will towards my queen; you don't wish to harm Lilith, do you, hunter?"

Zuleika nodded to Mischa. "Her favorite gown, as I recall, is of gray silk. She wore it every time she had the opportunity; that, and an ivory coat. I've no idea where she got the second." She crossed her arms over her chest, the blade in her hand seamlessly flipping to point at the floor.

"Asmodeus should know," said the ice demon, "that there is no way to break a contract unless the demon in question wants it broken I doubt she is going to want to give something up that allows her to remain the in human world." Zuleika was perfectly loyal to Lilith, but it seemed Lilith's daughter fully missed that boat. "Unless you have evidence that proves she no longer wishes to be bound to Sibyl's side, you're faced with learning the weaknesses of Lucifer's lineage."

Mischa listened closely to Zuleika. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled the scrap of cloth from it, placing it flat in her palm so that the demoness could see it. "This was left in my room. The pattern of blood seemed odd.. almost as if written there. I've been carrying it around since that day. It... I felt like it was meant to protect me in some way." She said nothing of the blood pulsing on it when she had first seen it, but was uncertain why she omitted that. Asmodeus had acted as if she were crazy or he was simply not planning to tell her what it was other than a stained piece of fabric.

"If the princess is trying to protect me, then she is a friend to me. And I have no ill-will towards Lilith as I have no reason for such." the girl added. "It's the hunter we need to worry about. And get the princess free of her. She may have been forced into the contract in some way."

"Hunter, Sibyl is the demon hunter I was telling Irving about. And there is no proof that she does not want to be other than leaving these scraps behind." she indicated the cloth in her hand. "Whispered warnings in the dark, the fabric. I'm not the only one that has been seeing these omens from her. Many others have been also. Bassett for one. Mandy, Grim's summoner. Ein, Yuki-onna's summoner. And others I am sure. Probably as many as she could warn."

Asmodeus frowned slightly. He had not realized she was carrying the fabric in her pocket and felt as she did. He watched her a long moment. Perhaps it was time to reveal some of what he knew. "I will protect Mischa from whomever it is, Zuleika. The contract between she and I will not be broken, but there is an earlier contract that I must fulfill and if it leads to Mischa as I suspect, then I will do everything I must to prevent harm to her. Even if it means pulling out all those at my command. If you want to discuss more then privately." He watched Zuleika closely for a long moment, letting her digest the information a moment. His eyes were more serious than he usually ever was. The demon prince would go through whomever threatened Mischa, which unfortunately meant he would be right there with her if she decided to help Edward and his.

Mischa blinked staring at him. "Two contracts? Should I not know this?"

"Why? You made a contract with me." he smirked. "The first was not between you and I even if you are included in it. Besides it was long ago. I simply felt it pulling at me and something drew me to you. You should feel safer with two contracts than simply your own anyhow."

"Safer? More trapped you mean." she growled at him, eyes angry. He could be such an a** sometimes. Most of the time.