Nick waited in anticipation as the woman’s ruby lips parted.

“Hello there, I assume you’re the Nick my little Paige has been telling me about?” Her voice enveloped Nick, making him feel tiny.

“Y-Yes ma’am.” He stuttered out.

This wasn’t good, Nick couldn’t meet the woman’s eyes but also couldn’t drag them away from her. His eyes darted between her legs and chest, even her arms looked like the most appealing damn arms he’d ever seen. Nick felt completely flustered, he had no idea where to look.

The woman chuckled, the sound sending tremors through his body. “I was expecting more.”

Nick wasn’t sure what she meant by that and frowned. How was he already failing to meet expectations? Goddamnit, he wanted nothing more than to meet the expectations of the woman before him. Wait, did he? Hadn’t he been thinking something completely different before walking into this room? Nick took a deep breath and closed his eyes, he tried to focus on the energy inside him.

“Cute.” The woman’s single word shook him like a small boat in a storm.

“Paige my dear, what happened? While I’m glad to see him here, I didn’t think you’d manage to get him back this early.” The woman’s voice took a more serious tone.

This gave Nick a moment of respite, which he took full advantage of. He dove his focus internally and sort after his energy. He found it floating around sluggishly, which wasn’t right. The only time he’d seen it like this was when he’d be poisoned, had he been hit again? He hadn’t eaten or drank anything since this morning so that didn’t make sense. Nick then tried to connect to his energy, to get it to move in a way he wanted. He found it rather unresponsive but it tried its best to meet his demands. Nick commanded it to move itself, and so it tried. Nick watched as it struggled to move itself around and he finally realised something.

Unlike when he’d been poisoned and the energy itself was sluggish, it was now struggling to move through its environment. The ethereal space inside of him had become clogged with something. As Paige explained everything that had happened in the hotel earlier in perfect detail, Nick furrowed his brows. He focused his energy into a point and had it try and pierce through the molasses it was stuck in. Success. There was a strange pop and for a moment his energy was freed. Nick was about to rejoice when something horrific happened. He watched a foreign energy slowly begin to seep through ethereal film that surrounded his body. It was a deep red and as it came through it dispersed into him, refilling the space he had fought so hard to claim back.

Nick’s eyes snapped open and he made direct eye contact with the woman before him. He interrupted Paige’s recount.

“Could you stop it? I don’t think it’s a very polite way to treat a guest.” He boldly said.

“Hoh hoh, that’s certainly unexpected. I didn’t quite believe Paige when she told me you tried to play the straight man with her.” The woman chortled.

Nick suddenly felt the energy that had invaded him pull back and he watched his own energy return to floating around freely.

“You simply must tell me how you’ve managed that as a 2-2 Nick.” The woman purred.

“Well it started when Reggie tried to kill me with his aura, as I was being crushed down into the floor I-” Nick caught himself. “-I totally forgot actually. Must have slipped the mind.”

The woman grinned at him. “Oh my, aren’t you just a little bundle of fun.”

She then turned back to Paige. “Hmm in that case I should talk to Vass, he’ll have his work cut out for him again.” She said with a sigh.

Nick took a moment to inspect some of the paintings on the wall. They were mostly all renaissance looking, depicting groups of people in various scenarios. Nick began to notice a pattern though, goats, scared faces, some of the paintings even got a little gory. His eyes landed on one painting in particular, it depicted a red haired woman sitting on top of a horse sounded by a crowd of young children. Something began to click in Nick’s head. Paimon, Paimon Paimon Paimon. He knew that name from somewhere.

“That’s it.” Nick exclaimed, then realised that he’d just interrupted Paimon speaking to Paige. “Paimon. It’s the name of a demon, one of the ones that served Baal.”

The woman simply raised an eyebrow at him. Nick had to clear his throat and look away, the woman simply too alluring.

“Yes Nick, you’re right.” The woman smiled.

Nick steeled himself and looked the woman square in the eye again. It took all of his willpower to stay focused, his eyes begging to be allowed to wander across her body.

“Are you a demon Paimon?” He asked, fully serious.

The woman burst into laughter. She brought her hand up to cover her face but didn't manage to stop herself laughing for an entire minute. Nick was left awkwardly standing there watching the most attractive woman he’d ever seen writhe in a fit of laughter, at least he couldn’t complain about the view.

“Gosh Nick, you sound like one of those zealots from the far reaches of the Parklands. Little ol’ me? A demon?” The woman burst into laughter again. “No no, I’m certainly nothing quite that sinister dear.”

“It’s an interesting name to have.” Nick pushed.

“Aren’t they all my dear?” She said with a smile that caused Nick's thoughts to drift away.

Nick focused his thoughts, he thought Paige was distracting, this woman was a whole new level.

“I heard you were interested in me. What can I do for you?” Nick raised; business was a great middle ground to aim for.

The woman smirked. “Can’t a woman simply want for things?”

Nick was about ready to cut off his own leg for the chance to even get close to this woman. Everything flew out the window and for a moment every single brain cell of his was dedicated to the cause of working out what he could do to please the woman before him. Nick realised it was time for drastic measures. He walked over the wall closest to him. Then he suddenly threw his forehead as hard as he possibly could into the wall. He fell to the floor and revelled in the feeling of pain coursing through his head. Pain was preferable to unrestrained desire.

“Ahhhhhhhh, much better.” He sighed.

“I’ve seen many men do strange things to entertain Paimon, but that’s certainly a new one.” A new voice spoke.

Nick shook his head and looked at the source of the voice. It was a tall man, dressed in a dark robe that hid most of his body. The man had long dark hair that was tied back into a loose ponytail. The man walked over and offered a hand to Nick. Nick took it and was hoisted up to his feet in one deft movement.

“Good to finally meet you Nick.” The man said.

Okay, did everyone around here just know who he was? Nick was beginning to feel a little lost. Here he was, getting to know a whole new environment and everyone in it knew his name!

“Pleasure's all mine…?” Nick prompted.

“Vassago. Shaman of the Executioners, I welcomed your sister to the fold just the other day.” The man said with a bow.

Nick found himself already with a positive impression of the man and it didn’t feel artificial like his impression of Paimon, which was like a tumour festering inside of him.

“He’s also the man who built the building you’re standing in, and that’s why he’s here. That idiot Reggie is going to trigger the Earthquake to get back at the Parkland People’s Militia.” Paimon said with a sigh.

Now Nick liked the man even more. Not only did he seem like a nice enough bloke, but he was an Architect that built the most outstanding structure he had ever seen. It was hard for Nick not to like the guy. The man frowned at Paimon’s words.

“Well that’s not good. I’ll have to get right over to the formation. Do you have a time frame?”

“Soon.” Paimon answered.

Vassago’s frown deepened. “Right. I’ll be off then. Loved meeting you Nick, come visit me sometime.”

With that the man was gone. Like instantly. Poof. Nick was flabbergasted. How? The man had just vanished in front of him, come to think of it, he hadn’t heard the door open either. Nick turned to look at Paimon.

“Shamans.” She said with a shrug.

God, even when she shrugged she looked breathtaking. Nick felt his blood pressure rising from just looking at her. Nick had to avert his gaze, he was trying to keep his wits about him somewhat. He was fully ready to throw himself into the wall again if need be.

“Paimon, let's get down to brass tacks. Why have you set this all up? Why am I here? Why is Paige doing what she’s doing?” Nick was a straight shooter, looking for his answers.

“You don’t get to know Nick.” She replied. “All you need to know is that you’ll be staying under my watch. Every move you make, every step you take, I’ll be watching you.” She grinned.

Nick threw his hands up into the air and walked back over the wall. Throwing himself into it and picking himself up off the floor. A small cut opened up on his forehead, sending blood trickling down his face. He saw Paige openly lick her lips and he shuddered. He certainly was in a strange place.

“While your antics are interesting, I’d have you refrain from repeating them. I don’t want to have to call someone in here to repair my walls for something this mundane.” Paimon said with a sly smile.

Nick wasn’t even sure what she was implying, but he knew that it was affecting him. Nick just turned around and walked over the door. He couldn’t deal with this, whatever was going on was beyond him and he just wanted out. His poor soul couldn’t take this treatment. He pulled on the door and found that it was incredibly heavy, he had to strain every muscle he had available just to open it wide enough for him to slip through. Nick didn't care how silly he must have looked, he was dead set on getting out of this study. He heard Paimon chuckle and it raised goosebumps across his body. Nick frantically wormed his way through the gap, all pretences of coolness flushed down the drain.

“It was a pleasure Nick. Please come back any time, maybe for a one on one meeting?” Paimon purred.

Nick threw himself down the stairs, uncaring of the consequences. Anything to get the woman’s voice out of his head. It wasn’t as bad a fall as when he’d done it on the 75th floor, Nick might have been becoming a professional at this activity. The pain from each bump on the stone steps helped clear his mind of impure thoughts. As he lay a crumpled mess at the bottom of the stairs he sighed. His mind was a bit clearer now, though he wasn’t sure he’d made the smartest of choices. His right leg felt pretty numb.

That’s when Paige came walking down the stairs and saw him.

“What is wrong with you?” Confusion thick in her voice.

“Plenty of things.” Nick said with a smile and he hobbled back up to his feet. “You know, I see a good flight of stairs and just can’t help myself.”

Paige shook her head and approached him. She looped her arm through his and helped him walk back the way they had come. Nick had to admit that Paige was probably carrying most of the weight, he couldn’t actually feel his right foot anymore.

“Hey Paige…”

“I’m taking you to a Healer.”

“...Thank you.”

The pair made their way back through the cathedral and back outside. Nick sucked in the fresh air, relishing in it. That was another thing the Parklands had that the hotel didn’t. Air that didn’t smell like carpet. That was certainly a huge improvement. Why the hell did anyone choose to live in the hotel when a place like this existed? He realised he might have a clue as to why.

“Paige, what’s this earthquake Paimon mentioned?” Nick asked.

“The Earthquake.” Paige corrected. “Is the Parkland’s version of the Flood. If we mess up the garden enough then the Gardeners get incensed. Then the Earthquake happens. It destroys almost everything in the Parklands and resets it all back to its base state.”

“Wait, when you say the Parkland’s version of the Flood, does that mean the Flood is also a triggered event?” Nick asked.

“I don’t know. If it is, then it’s a pretty well kept secret by the stronger amongst us. The Flood does seem to serve the same purpose though. It wipes out everything in the car park and returns it to the same state as the day we first saw it.” Paige explained.

“So what’s going to happen to the Parklands? What will the Earthquake do?” Nick asked.

“Well, most of the strong cities will have some sort of contingency against it. I doubt we were the only one’s smart enough to plan for this possibility. Many small settlements are going to disappear suddenly, not to mention all of the farms. Things are going to be incredibly disastrous for the common person living here.”

That didn’t sound good to Nick. The powerful factions all had their ways to safeguard themselves from the coming trouble, but the average person didn’t. If the Earthquake did what Paige was saying it would, lives were going to be ruined. Entire settlements and towns getting removed from existence? There was no way that was going to end well.

Nick hoped that his family and friends were safe.