Kearney and Kayden waited outside of the backroom as Amy and Catherine continued their talk.

“So you left Zare in there?” Amy said.

“Yeah,” Catherine scoffed, “And you ruined four months of work. Luckily, Kayden was able to contain the danger he left you before it got any bigger.”

“So what happens now?”

“Now,” Catherine sighed, “We need to make sure he doesn’t find his father or else it’s really going to be hell on earth.”

“What is Valac’s story?” Amy tried not to feel offended.

“Valac is one of the Devil top commanders who grew tired of his policy of over-promising and under-delivering. Now he thinks that he’s the one suited for the job along with his son, Zare.”

“So he’s looking to conquer earth for himself?”

“Not just earth, but also hell.”

“So it’s a coup?!” Amy couldn’t relish the thought of demons actually backstabbing each other. She always understood that monsters helped monsters for survival—to her, they were incapable of understanding authority or respect. This was something she was never taught or even heard about.

“I take it you know about the other civil wars?” Catherine gave Amy a look of arrogance.

“What other civil wars?” Amy didn’t even know about the current ones let alone the ones in the past. Why weren’t they called? How much destruction did these monsters do at those times?

“Sheesh,” Catherine sighed, “What do you Exorcists even do? Luckily, Kayden has been able to prevent them, and we even had a bargaining chip until you and your boyfriend decided to let him go!”

“We didn’t know about it until Kayden told us.”

“Never mind that,” Catherine raised her finger to shush her, “Now we have two extra recruits helping us with the rising tide.”

“Recruits?” Amy mocked, “What makes you think we even have time to join your little brigade? We need to bring Kayden to the Royal Cross for his help.”

“More like execution,” The occult expert rebutted, “You seriously think that you precious Exorcists will let someone like Kayden live, the ‘Hell Walker’?”

“We’re soldiers of God,” Amy argued, “We won’t stoop to low and sinful morals!”

“You forget that you’re human,” Catherine stood up, “And like all humans, we were made for temptations and sinning.”

“Not us.”

“I think it’s best to accept it before you find out the hard way.”

“I’d rather not get advice from a reader of the dark arts.” Amy walked away. Catherine knew a lot more than Amy did about the culture of Hell. This rubbed the young Exorcist the wrong way especially the way she mocked the Royal Cross. Something was off about her—or at least that’s what she thought.

“Or maybe you’re blind to the fact that I’m right.” Catherine picked up one of her books and flipped through the pages.

Amy was angry at being called a sinner. Her training was revolved around the fact that she can never fall for temptation and the like. This girl never understood the concept or even experienced the struggle that Amy and many like her faced to be the person she is. Her fist clenched next to her as she bit her lip to prevent another argument.

“So what’s the story on Kayden? How did you find him?” Catherine broke the silence.

“Nothing that involves you or your witchcraft.”

They both derided at each other and carried on with whatever they were doing. The aura Amy felt earlier soon turned into tension-filled air.

“We found him ordering yakisoba.” Amy gritted her teeth.

“Of course,” Catherine smiled, “That idiot.”

The young tattooed woman sat back and pulled out a cigarette. She lit it with the thought of the Hell Walker rushing through her head. Their history wasn’t exactly stable—to put it lightly. They were young people who got caught up in a war that was far older than all of them and even their forefathers. She didn’t show it, but she often worried about Kayden ever since the day she met him. The young exile was complicating her life, but she didn’t worry much about it.

Amy couldn’t say the same about Kearney or Kayden. She never had a chance to feel any sort of emotion but antagonism toward the demons who try to consume the world. She expected the worse out of Kayden, who was to her still a traitor. This meant she trusted his associates and him as far as she can throw them. Amy knew her position—it was one she took seriously. The fate of the human race stood on her shoulders, and hers alone.

“Look at--” Catherine’s searched seemed to give her some results before she was interrupted by a sudden change in the environment.

The ground around them began to shake violently, causing cracks to appear below them. Amy dashed toward Catherine and managed to pull her away from the falling futon.

“What’s going on?!” Amy held Catherine back to prevent her from slipping down to the chasms.

“This place should’ve been protected by my spell!” Catherine panted. She left out seals to prevent any being from detecting their auras.

“Unless they’re attacking around the building.” Amy deduced, “Direct attacks are obviously going to be repelled, but that doesn’t mean the entire perimeter will be safe. We need to leave now!”

Kayden and Kearney managed to cut through the falling debris. They looked disheveled and a bit freaked out from the situation that was going on outside. Whatever they saw outside was enough for concern, especially for Kayden.

“We have a problem.” Kayden stared blankly.

“A big one.” Kearney added.