Colin's posts

She was about halfway through the message, before she felt him RIGHT behind her. And when he spoke, his voice indicated that he wasn't even an inch away from her, he was so close.

"Ah-ah-ah." he said, snatching her phone.

"Trying to call some backup in?" he asked.

"Your demon and nepilim friend are nowhere NEAR as strong as I am. They can't help you." he then said with a laugh... but it stopped abruptly, and his tone took a turn for the serious.

"That being said, I can feel that an archangel's been meddling." he commented.

"You're like one of those fish on a hook... that just keep struggling and flopping around, despite it being over." he snarled.

"Then I will return in exactly 3 days." he responded.

The woman took down the barrier, causing him to chuckle lightly.

"Toodles." he said, before leaving the room.

As he did, she found herself relieved to be out of his presence. She had no problems doing what he requested, and she had to agree that the payment was more then adequate enough, and seemed to be legitimate, for all intents and purposes... but she just didn't like being around him.

He made her skin crawl a little.

Sure enough, the following evening, Erica was returning home from a shift at the Unit, and as soon as she approached the building and put the keys to the lock, she felt it.

Him.

He had arrived, and was approaching her from behind.

"Hair. Got it." he told her. "I will acquire some of her hair." he said. "How much?" he asked.

"A decent-sized lock." she replied. "And at least 2 inches in length." she said further.

"Done." he said.

"I will have it to you within the next few days." he went on.

He then flicked his wrist, and a black and red briefcase appeared beside her, on the workbench she had. She found it unlocked, and when she opened it, she found $150,000 in US currency.

"Your payment." he told her.

"I suspect you will start to prepare thing while I acquire the hair?" he asked.

"I am willing to wait." he responded.

"I have waited millennia already." he told her. "I've been pondering and planning this for... a VERY long while." he assured her. "A few months? Nothing to me." he continued.

"Just tell me if you need anything more from me. Or from the woman, herself." he said.

"And how do you take your payment?" he asked.

"Before? After? Half-and-half? Another split of sorts?" he asked further.

"I wish to conduct our business as respectfully and amicably as possible."

He was starting to get annoyed now, but he held his tongue. He needed her help, so he needed to let her play her little game of 'more information'. However, it was clear that she wasn't one for vague talk and allusions. It was something he could respect.

"...all right." he said. "I'll be blunt." he told her.

"I know you possess an artefact." he said. "One that not even the Council or Triad is sure exists." he continued. "And I want you to use that artefact to make the mind of one Erica Windsor under MY command." he said further.

"Just tell me what you need to link her to that artefact." he went on.

"And tell me how much this service will cost." he then said.

"Will $150,000 suffice?" he asked.

He just smirked again.

"I intend to launch a crusade against one that has slighted me in the past." he told her.

"For that, I need an army. One that can take on their might." he continued.

"And to that end, I require the power of someone that carries a demonic curse." he went on. "However, they are... well... shall we say, not sympathetic to my cause." he went on.

"So I need to... coerce them into joining my cause." he reasoned.

"However, I need to do so in a way that does not step past the boundaries that demons are forced to recognise."

He was silent for a moment, a little surprised by her accent, but smiled smoothly at her.

"I am." he replied, his own voice as velvet as he could make it.

"I'm here to inquire about a service you provide." he told her. "One that's... well-known in underworld circles, and one that it seems people are afraid to ask you for." he continued.

He then crossed his arms over his chest, and looked her straight in her eyes.

"I hear you're a Priestess." he told her.

"A specific kind of Priestess, with a very specialised set of skills."

He raised an eyebrow when she turned and walked off, but promptly stood and followed. As he did, he looked around, seeing the various clients there, getting work done and such. He wasn't stupid, he pieced things together. Or started to, anyway.

He guessed that the one he was following was the one he was looking for. And it seemed she also worked as a stylist here, and wasn't just the owner. He could respect that... made things a lot easier for her in terms of hiding.

And the fact the 'owner' was referred to as a 'he' probably helped.

He remained silent as they walked, only clearing his throat when they walked past all the patrons and employees. It was not to force her to pay attention, however, it was merely something he did from time to time.

He hated to admit it, but he knew he had to play nice, here. He was coming to her for a service that he could not provide for himself. So he needed to play by HER rules. For the time being.

He did NOT look impressed when he heard that. He looked about to utter some serious threats, before calming himself down and clearing his throat a little.

"Perhaps you didn't hear me." he said, leaning in close.

"Or misunderstood me." he went on.

"I wish to speak with the owner here." he told her.

"SHE is not expecting me, but I'm sure SHE has time for me." he continued, standing back up straight, and clearing his throat once more.

"If you would be so kind as to tell her I'm here. Though she probably already knows."

"I think we all want to know." Zeke responded.

"We'll keep trying to find out." he told her. "I promise." he said.

"For now, though... let's enjoy this lunch we have." he suggested.

"And celebrate how you seem to be improving." he added.

-Meanwhile-

Erica's unwanted visitor strolled down the street, passing by people as he did so, and ignoring those leering at him with jealousy and lust. He WAS rather good-looking, but they all seemed like swine to him. Sows and swine.

He stopped at one of the most well-known and recommended hair salons in the city. They usually had appointments booked months in advance, that was how quality they were. He just smirked to himself, before stepping inside.

He had business there, and stepped up to the receptionist there.

"I need to speak with the owner."

Zeke just reached forward and took her by the hand. Her non-cursed hand.

"I'm here for you." he told her.

"If anything, I'm here for you, Erica." he said.

"...we're friends. And no damn curse is going to stop that." he vowed. "I promise." he said further.

"All right?" he finished with a small smile.

"...I see." Zeke muttered.

"So that's what Azazel meant when he said you told him you were on borrowed time." he said.

"I don't like it." he then said.

"I don't like that one bit." he mumbled further.

"There has to be some way to improve the overall quality of your life." he went on. "Mitigate this flare-ups, and not just counter them."

"That in and of itself is concerning." Zeke replied.

"But... for now, I'll be grateful and happy that you seem to be doing much better than you have been in a long while." he told her.

"Seriously, you seem like a new person." he commented.

"Like a weight's been lifted off your shoulders." he went on.

"Still... seems like the flare-ups have been more common than usual..."

"Odds are he didn't." Zeke said. "He... well, he doesn't like the world down here." he told her.

"Doesn't like people, doesn't like to give out his name, doesn't like ME..." he mumbled.

"...so this makes his actions even MORE confusing." he then said.

"Because, the way you describe him, it can't be anyone BUT him." he reasoned.

"Maybe there's something nobody knows about happening." he went on, scratching his chin.

"...regardless, I suppose I should just stop trying to overanalyse it, and we should be grateful for what he did for you."