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Colette looked over the images from the warehouse. They didn't tell her much other than that the killer liked to be messy.

She felt a hand on her shoulder. "Seems a bit excessive, doesn't it?"

Colette looked to Dammon. "So was it the work of Loch?"

"In a way." He sat on Colette's desk and took a sip from his brandy.

"The fact that everyone is after those three idiots proves to me that they all must be grasping at straws on this issue. So, does it change anything now that he has them?"

Dammon shrugged. "I wasn't even sure what we were doing with them in the first place."

Colette stared at him. "Then why did you task them with retrieving the cube?"

"Wasn't my idea." He took another sip of his drink.

"Then whose was it?"

Dammon looked towards the door. "Dear, you can come in."

Into the office walked Lara in one of her usual business suits. "Hey, Colette."

Colette shot to her feet. "You can't be serious!"

Lara sighed. "You're ascended, Colette. You're supposed to be above petty grudges. And really, you're such a bitch anyone else would have humiliated you thusly if given the opportunity."

"And those would be your last words."

Colette started towards Lara, but Dammon gently put his hand out in front of her. "If we had more time, I'd throw down some mud and let you settle this like ladies. I'm just going to have to ask you to listen instead. Lara works for Elza... who I've had a secret alliance with for some time."

Colette backed off but kept an eye on Lara. "I thought she took the cube from Elza's people and gave it to Asmod."

"Don't ask me to explain things," Lara said. "All I know is that now we don't want either Asmod or Serpine to have permanent ownership of the device."

Colette looked to Dammon. "Elza is playing us."

Lara smiled. "I'd almost guarantee it. And Dammon is trying to play Elza as he does all the other Trans. Duplicity is pretty much how the world goes 'round these days."

Dammon led Colette back to her chair. "The obvious lack of trust aside, the fact is Elza has her people planted all over, and I have plenty of contact and resources. Together, we can mount an effort to get into Ronove's lab and retrieve the cube."

"And then what?"

Dammon sipped his drink. "That's between me and Elza."

"And no one still has any idea what the cube does?"

"I'm guessing nothing," Dammon said. "Everyone wants it, though, so that makes it valuable and dangerous. So, I'll need you to get some of your best men, and you'll be working with Lara and her group."

Colette looked at Lara. "Will your girls play well with others, Miss Skinner?"

Lara shrugged. "As long as your men won't rape and murder them. They're not fond of that."

Colette was still a moment away from ripping Lara's head off so as just not see that smug little smile anymore. "I'll make a note of that."

Dammon patted Lara on the shoulder. "Lara, could you give me a moment to talk to my employee?"

"Sure. I'll give you two a moment to plot behind my back." Lara left the room.

Dammon took Colette by her hand, the one that had been recently severed. "I can trust you can rise above a lust for vengeance over the ephemeral things of this world?"

"Of course. I know I have failed you recently, but--"

Dammon put his fingers to her lips. "A learning experience. You're stronger for it, and I know I can trust you for this task. Yes, it seems foolish to put any trust into Elza or her followers, but she is an annoyance, not a threat. There is one out there, though, worth fearing... much more than either Asmod or Serpine upsetting the balance of power."

"Who? And why haven't I heard of him before?"

Dammon paused thoughtfully for a moment. "We liked to think he had no more interest in this world, but I'm afraid we were wrong."
"And he is involved with the cube?"

"I am guessing he is involved in a number of things lately."

Colette thought she saw fear in Dammon's face, but dismissed the thought. "And what does he want?"

Dammon finished off his drink. "You know children stories where the villain seems to be evil for simply the sake of evil. This is him. He will not rest until anything with sentience is in eternal torment."

Now Colette was scared. "So what do we do about him?"

"We educate ourselves." Dammon looked her in the eyes. "This remains only between you and me, but I do not care about the cube. I have a completely different mission for you."

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Hellbender Take Two
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