“Ladies and Gentlemen, let me present you the first item of today!” an auctioneer announced boldly with a happy grin of delight. A twinkle of readiness to go fastly on the bidding. His stern brown eyes took in the people in the auditorium. Lights flickered off, as a hush of the crowd silenced the room. A spot of glowing white light hit down on a tall table, showing a cased of sparkling jewel shimmering in the light.

There were whispers of awe as every single eye locked on the silver pure diamonds as the necklace and a bold diamond ruby glistened as the main spotlight, carefully laid perfectly for all to see.

“We are going for one million dollars! Do I hear any more?” the auctioneer grinned ear to ear.

"Two billion!” someone screamed hysterically.

The eyes and ears tuned to the voice, all mumbling with confusion. No one usually bid so high so fast. This fine jewel was a sight to behold. Even the highest bidders were awestruck by the audacity to start with a bang.

The fat auctioneer with a button tie and coat and nice slacks, laughed hard, “I see. Going daring and fast, I like how we are starting our day!”

Guards all around the stadium stood stiffly, eyes averted everywhere and everything that moved. Their relaxed hands were on guns for anyone to dare walk up the stadium and steal anything precious or rare.

"Anyone else going up for three billion?” the auctioneer asked with a boom of glee.

The audience stared at each other, anyone daring to voice in that three billion dollars.

“Going, one, going twice...sold to the person in the red, three rows up!”

There was clapping and laughter of such a good start to the night. The woman who bid on the jewel was smiling ear to ear, and people patted her on the back and saw even flickered jealously mocked faces at her. One even pouted but exclaimed loud enough, “I save it for something worthwhile.”

Katerina smirked, Not like their money will be used tonight. She put her hand comfortably on her belt, feeling the smoothness of her newly designed pistol. I could bid something...not as I would buy it.

She felt concealed away from the world in her hood. She hunched her shoulders, not to be noticed, by the rest of them, she didn’t want to look like she owned the place. She scanned around the area. The air conditioner pumped cool air out of the auditorium. People were moving about but mostly sat at the edge of their seats, ready for what was next to revel.

You better not fuck this up, Sara. She realized that someone was looking at her, her hand still on her covered gun. She saw judgmental eyes looking too curiously at her. One of the rules here: See something suspicious, report it. Guards were crawling over the place.

Kate put a smile on her face, “Oh, I think I might’ve pulled a muscle in my thigh when I was running to get here before the doors were closed.” This was true...she was running here to catch up with a demon. She had no choice but to kill the demon, for he recognized her.

She dismissed the onlooker and kept walking down. She was going to be here all night. She needed to get around this whole building, look where was there, and watch who was bidding. She hoped that...he wasn’t coming. She tightened her muscles as she thought of that bitch. She again, dismissed this thought like she did with the onlooker and looked ahead.

Kate felt her leather belt tighten as she breathed in the cool air to smooth her racing heart down. This was the first mission; it was a big mission. If they didn’t complete this task, they would have to train another year before going back out.

When Kate was going to this place, she excitedly wandered the sidewalks and looked at the sunset with a dazzling smile of awe. She hadn’t been out of her home since she was five. She was nervous. Every time someone glanced at her, she would sink do her hoodie and think they would suspect her as the famous Katerina Dixon, the one who put a blazing mark on the Devil..literally. So, when a strong wind gusted at her face, and the hoodie came down, she was alone on a sidewalk, only a demon gaped at her in surprise.

She fumbled out her gun, her hands nervously shaking and missing him the first time, but when she was running after the demon as he was about to shout out to the whole world who was here, she shot him down with her silencer and burned the evidence.

She was prepared for this and had put dissolving liquid on the blood and the burn marks and they all disappeared, which she did that in less than two minutes. She constantly was on alert if she heard footsteps and had yanked and tightened her hood back up.

“Here item number two!” the auctioneer exclaimed and waved his hand dramatically to guards moving a sliding table. They yanked off the cloth in a show and there was a small bottle inside a cage. In which pink liquid shinned. The auctioneer chuckled, “Before I dare say this without much concise, this is a true—love poison. Exactly another potion was used on someone who gave it to them, and that person went mad over heels.”

A silence of doubt floated in the air, some mummers of untruth and shaking of heads.

“Dear me, let me show you,” the auctioneer said, his face calm as ever as a girl walked in and flung down. A man stood there with a grin on his scratched face, “Darling, why don’t you take off your clothing slowly.”

Kate went white with disgust and sat down. She didn’t want to look like a sore eye. The girl uncovered her clothing without a second beat. “Anything for you master,” she said, her eyes glistering at his every word and movement. “Please, I’ll do anything. I love you,” her voice choked as she profounded her love for him.

A warlock shook his head and walked down the alley, a frown slowly appearing, “A love potion you say? Anyone can tell a woman to take off their clothes without many bargains and some acting.” He waved a hand with a chuckle, a string of pink appearing in the air and disappearing. He lazily sat down on the first row. Rings circled his fingers and moved in fingers a little, as lights flickered on and off, showing off.

“You know the rules, sir,” the auctioneer said, with a bored expression.

Kate knew well that this place was where all the famous villains and monsters came to show off their powers or flaunt their money around. But it wasn’t just money they flaunted, but they could also trade a spellbook or an angel feather for an item, depending on how valued the item was. An angel feather could get anywhere, but if the feather was from an archangel or the Devil himself, it was a high price. Anyone could use the feather as a ritual to make a dangerous spell or even make a new species. And that was only one feather from a higher being. Now if it was a regular angel feather, which is used to make regular healing potions and small spells, it wouldn’t bargain for much, and no one here would trade something so low.

Fine,” the auctioneer said with a spat, “Tell her to slice her neck.” He pulled out a dagger and handed it over to the man, who gave it to the woman.

“Kill yourself,” the man said in a rough tone.

The woman looked at him with rare passion and nodded, “Anything for you, my love.” She turned to the crowd with her eyes only thoughts of the man. She slit her throat without any hesitation and fell to the ground on his feet.

There were loud exclamations, not from horror, but from excitement to see that this potion was a real deal. The bidding started at a fast pace. Kate sighed, disappointed that there was already a dead body. She would gladly kill every disgusting monster here, but the girl was under a spell. She could’ve been a monster too, but she was the victim here.

This is what her boss had taught her: Innocent until proven guilty. So speaking, everyone here could be normal nice people, just watching the fun show and seeing. But, Kate knew better, everyone who was here was for business with other people or here to buy.

Kate overlooked the auditorium again, its capacity at full. She saw Asmodeus standing, greeting his fellow demons, his smooth dark skin shone out from its flawless skin and he wore a normal suit and tie. His eyes were casually scanning around, seeing who was here or not. Kate tried not to look at him, if they locked eyes, this mission would be over and it would be her fault. He would recognize her.

Katerina Dixon was on the most wanted list for the villains. She was probably on the top, but that wasn’t anything to brag about.

She felt herself twitching her fingers and moving in her seat. She needed to calm down, but she couldn’t. One wrong move, she could be figured out. She decided to stand up and move around, find some water, and a snack. A good excuse to wander around aimlessly and see what people were up to.

The worst that could happen, is if someone else was also trying to ruin this night or if she and her friend were killed. She left the loud auditorium room. She went to the bathroom first and didn’t cast her eyes down to look like she was plotting something, but didn’t greet anyone.

As she washed her hands, she heard laughter. Two girls walked next to her and ran the water, “I heard they are going to auction off a Nephilim,” the girl said, fixing her hair and makeup. This occasion wasn’t casual. People wore formal clothing out of respect for being with higher beings and it was fun to dress up.

The other girl redid her lips and smacked them, “You think? I heard from my father, that there will be two Nephilim, rather than one.”

Her friend snapped a gaze at her, “No way. Everyone will go wild.”

Kate turned off the faucet and pretended as if she was looking where the paper towels were.

“Oh yes,” the lipstick girl said, “Do you think…Lucifer will be here?”

There was silence and the other friend shook her head, “No, I heard from a demon that he wasn’t coming this year. Something about wanting to be left alone from the parties.” She cast her eyes on Kate, “The towels are over there,” she pointed at the wall, that held the brown crappy towels.

“Thanks,” Kate said, softly.

The lipstick girl leaned against the wall, wanting her friend to finish up, “I hear that the Devil is depressed about some shit.”

Her friend gasped in surprise as if someone told her World War broke out, “No way! Is he still grieving?”

“Everyone knows he is trying to deny it, but everyone knows he is heartbroken,” she shifted legs, going on the other knee to put weight on. Her high-heels looked uncomfortable even though they were a stunning, glossy black.

The girl flickered her eyes to Kate, “Hey, what you think? I can see you are interested in the conversation.”

Kate went pink, she wasn’t good at this pretending to not be interested, but she answered truthfully, “Yeah, I’m’ interested.”

“So,” the girl repeated, “What do you think, for Mr. Morning-Star?”

Kate grimaced and bit down her lips. She hated talking about him, “I couldn’t imagine having my sister die unexpectedly.” He deserved it.

The girls nodded, “Poor guy. Everyone is like, he’s the Devil, he should toughen up. I know it’s been like a decade or so, but you have to pity him. He goes through a lot. His brother doesn’t help. What he is doing now, is for the greater good, even those suck-up heroes who try to stop him,” said the lipstick girl, “My thinking is the way he is grieving still, is that no one let him grieve when she died. Now, I guess, it must be lonely...you know—never mind, no need to hear me talk.”

Kate left, not sure what to say back. She didn’t pity Lucifer. He killed her parents. He deserved the pain and nothing more. She stopped herself short and closed her eyes. No, she shouldn’t be thinking like that. If she was indeed a hero, she wouldn’t have so much hate against that bitch. She wouldn’t want him to suffer as she did. She clutched her fists, “I hate him so fucking much.” She went white as she realized she spoke out her thoughts.

“Yeah,” a goth girl said, “My boyfriend is a bitch too.”

Kate looked at her in confusion, “Oh yes, he is such an awful prick.” She walked away hurriedly and waited in a long line to get a coke and water. She couldn’t imagine dating the Devil. She took another deep breath and let the thought pass through her and her brain trailed back to the mission at hand. Kate couldn’t be rumbling about how much she hated the Devil. She knew without a doubt, that the people here...not considered people, the monsters or whatever, would start noticing something different about her.

She took a step without really thinking much of it, her mind lost in thought and she bumped into someone lightly, “Oh sorry.”

The guy looked back at her, “No, sorry. I wasn’t watching.” He paused and gave her a long hard look and Kate tried not to stare back but pretended something else caught her attention. This person gave her an uneasy feeling and she had to look back at who was looking at her with such interest.

But, the guy had left without another word, his hoodie covering his figure.

She huffed and turned back to the line’s attention. Most villains were looking at their phones, some were chatting excitedly about what kind of items were going to be sold today. She walked in front and asked for a coke and water, and a protein bar.

People looked at her unconcernedly and she let her jaw loosen and even smiled a little. The hoodie concealed her well, but not as well as she hoped. Her light burnt brown hair peeked out and she could make eye contact easily. She wished for an illusion spell, to look somewhat different, so she didn’t have to worry about hiding. But the monsters here, especially warlocks, would sense some magical spell on her and it would attract unnecessary attention.

She paid and sat down on a wooden bench. She ate the protein bar and finished her coke and water. She heard loud clapping in the auditorium and threw her stuff away. She hoped her friend was alright. This was also her friend’s first time being out also.

Kate walked back to the large room with villains standing up and screaming out excitement. She heard a parrot squeaking. It was speaking different languages at a loud speed with a crackly voice.

“It even can speak some demonic tongues,” the auctioneer, “The owner was working on him and he knew how to say, killed, and hello.”

The villains muttered out their approval. Speaking a new language was hard enough, but angelic or demonic, was unheard of. Only higher beings understand such tongues, and even the Archangel knew some broken-up demonic tongues, the Devil on the other hand knew most of the angelic tongue for he used to be an angel.

“Should we start the bidding at a million?” the auctioneer paced around the stage, pointing fingers out at callers. “Remember my dear people, you can also trade spell books, magical items, or powerful weapons in exchanged for the item.”

Without a moment's beat, someone boomed out, “I have the sword!”

A hush fell on the audience and everyone gawked at the man standing proudly in the first two rows of the seating. He uncovered a sword, beautifully designed with a silver snake waving around the handle.

There were whispers of astonishment.

Kate stood there, growing whiter every minute. Her hands started to sweat and she shook her head. No, it couldn’t be. This villain couldn’t have the sword, the sword that could—

“That is bullshit!” a woman called out, her snake tongue flickering back and forth.

Kate sauntered down the steps, letting herself be interested in this news. Everyone else was standing up and looking at the sword with some doubt

“It can’t be…” a young girl said to her left.

Kate kept walking down, hearing: “If that is the sword, then he could buy every item here without anyone stopping him...It was impossible...no one knew where the sword was...how could this person have it and announced it so bravely?”

Kate wondered the same thing, how could someone had announce having the sword without much thought? There could be a serious battle over this weapon. Blood and lives would be shed. She would have to stop it. Or could it be a distraction as she finished her mission?

She bit down on her lips in deciding what to do. No, she would continue what was planned. She couldn’t go off track, her friend would be confused and everything that they worked for would be a lost cause.

Kate saw villains gathering around this man, standing proudly among them, a gloating smile on his face. Since there were no angels here supposedly, no one could know if he lied or not. Unless warlocks came prepared with a liar detection spell on them, which wasn't likely. Everyone stood there speechless.

Asmodeus went straight to the guy, everyone moving out of his way. His head held high and his stride confidently down the alleys.

As he reached the man, Asmodeus’s face was stern with piercing silver eyes staring back at the man. He said with a deep, gentle voice, but full of authority, “Give me the sword,” Asmodeus handed out his hand.

Everyone stared down at those two men. Could this lower villain betray Asmodeus's command and suffer the consequences or would Asmodeus let him go? If this was truly the sword, then the man would give up a hugely valued weapon...but who could dismiss a command from such a higher-ranking demon?

The villain stumbled out words, with a nervous smile, and his black eyes slid to the demon, “Sir, with respect, I found this sword first. You have no right to take it from me.”

There was a gasp. Asmodeus had every right. No one should dare annoy the command of a Prince of Hell.

Asmodeus smiled gently, “Let me test if this is the real sword, and if it is—I’ll give it back to you.”

Everyone knows here that is a lie. He won’t give it back if it’s the real sword.

The man gave an afraid look as he stared at his villains looking back at him, knowing that he had no choice but to give up the weapon. Two ways could happen: If it was the sword, Asmodeus would take it and also the man and question him seriously; but if it wasn’t the real sword, then this man could be dragged and sentenced for telling such a big lie.

He gave the sword to Asmodeus, a weak smile still planted on his face.

Kate and everyone else leaned in to see what would happen.

Asmodeus held the sword sideways in his arm and used his other hand to feel the blade. He grasped the sword in his two hands and the sword dissolved into liquid hellfire.

The villains gasped—it wasn’t the real sword. If it was...the sword would be impossible to damage. Only the Devil and the Archangel could damage it, burn it or ruin it.

Asmodeus's eyes glowed red with anger, “You dare accuse of something that isn’t? That is a mocky itself that is offensive in so many ways.” Guards appeared next to him, cuffs in their hands and ready to drag him down into the pits of Hell.

Instead, Asmodeus grabbed the man by the neck and forced him onto the stage. The auctioneer was about to comment that no one wasn’t allowed on the stage, but he couldn’t order a Prince of Hell around.

Asmodeus turned to the crowd and said with a low deep grumble, “Don’t be like this man and say something that isn’t accurate. And saying you have something a high valued that the heroes and villains are looking for—is wrong.” He jerked the man’s head up, he grasped tightly around the man’s throat, “If any one of you say such a thing, you will be punished severely. What I am doing, is nothing but in a respective manner. To Lucifer!”

The man’s eyes bouged and he fell to the ground, twitching all over the floor.

“I am dissolving his organs inside out,” Asmodeus said with a hard look on his face of disgust from the man saying a statement without thoughts for the villains.

The villains were quiet as they watched. The lying man’s skin started to peel and dissolved slowly. Eyes came down, showing red sockets and the skin dragged down.

The decaying mess of the body was in a gruesome pile. Asmodeus snapped his fingers and the body was consumed by hellfire. He cleared his throat as he walked down the stage.

After a couple of thoughtful beats, the auctioneer said with a chuckle, “Lovely show. So, let us continue the bidding.”

The bidding continued as if nothing happened. Items were brought out: a golden apple that gave anyone immortality if they ate it, an artwork or Lucifer staring thoughtful, his hand cupped on his side cheek and his elbows resting down at his desk in his office. A photograph of a Prince turning to his true form, another photo of the Holy War, angels falling doom Heaven. This was indeed a rare sight, a rare photo of the Holy War. Only such a few were out there and claimed. A caldron that brought up items for the warlock to make potions if they burned the instructions of the spell into the caldron. There had to be an example for the warlocks to start bidding.

A few hours passed and Kate’s head hurt from hearing from villains screaming out numbers.

Finally, the real event of why most villains came here began. Kate sat up in her chair as a cage was rolled in, with a black sheet covering it.

The room with darker bright lights only displayed the huge stage. A brighter light cast down on the cage. Quiet sounds came from the lips of the villains.

The auctioneer was soaked in the darkness and the stillness of the audience. He smiled and moved his hand to the cage, “Ladies and Gentlemen, the real show begins. This creature, a hybrid of a Wendigo and a warlock mixed with their blood, is quite powerful. He can take away nightmares or bring them and create spells to control anyone you desire.”

Control anyone...Kate inhaled sharply. Controlling someone had to be special or a whole different high being, and being possessed by demons was a completely different story.

The auctioneer said, “He is still learning his powers, but don’t worry, he had controlled someone for thirty minutes…” he paused as he let the villains whisper the time of how long he could weld someone at his command, “He likes to help, and isn’t hard to manage. Put him in magic-proof cuffs to prevent from him doing anything harmful to you.”

The guards there ripped the cloth off with much drama and a noise boomed in unison. A small boy sat there, his blue eye and gray eye staring at the impressed crowd.

“Of course, let me show you,” the auctioneer smirked and motioned for the guards to take off the chains. The guards slowly let the boy from his chains without even stepping or opening the cage.

“Now,” the auctioneer said, “Control anyone in this room.”

The boy slowly brought his head up and pointed his finger at a person in the front row. It was a witch. He flickered his finger up and the witch jerked from her chair he twirled his fingers around, and the witch did an awkward dance, trying to use her magic against the spell he was controlling her.

The auctioneer nodded to the guards to restrain the boy. He fought a little, kicking and moving his arms around to block the arms from the guards, but one of them stepped into the cage and he slammed his hands down on the cage of the floor, flying the guard off the stage.

Kate felt chills all over her body. She could feel his powers prick all over the building, sensing and absorbing amazing powers from him.

A dart flew across the room and hit him in the neck. The boy collapsed down, his eyes rolling behind his head.

“Shall we start bidding? Three million dollars?” he said as the guards slammed cuffs on his arms and locked the cage tightly.

The bidding went higher and higher and Kate bit down her lips. She couldn’t let this poor boy alone with these monsters. Taken away. She knew that he would be set free, but she couldn’t imagine knowing that he would be owned by someone.

One of the reasons this event was held at night in a sketchy area in France. This place was supposed to be glamoured by my angels and hidden by heroes. This was illegal and a huge frown upon all the heroes. Selling a person off like that was a crime—like a regular law in the United States, but this kind of passing powerful beings was dangerous. In the wrong hands, the world could easily be taken and a huge fight against the villains and heroes would be deadly...not like it was already now.

The inclusion of budget for the boy was four billion dollars. The cage moved along with the other cages on the side of the stage, for all to see.

Two more people were sent out and brought like casually shopping online for clothing. Kate managed to get closer and closer to the stage.

“Now,” the cheerful auctioneer said, his eyes gleaming in the bright spotlights. “For our last showings for tonight,” he exhaled dramatically.

A cage slid out by a roller. He stepped forward to the cage and touched the fabric of the cloth, “We have chosen two Nephilim for our last items.” He let the cloth fly over with ease and a young woman stood in the large cage. Her wings were spread out as a sign of a threat and dark eye shadows showed her furious face. She banged against the cage, having some of the audience jumped in their seats. She showed her teeth, looking about to tear any guards that would raise a gun at her.

“Everyone knows…” the auctioneer started, “A Nephilim has five unique powers. She has eight.”

A whoosh of excitement as villains and monsters looked at this special creature.

Every Nephilim are immortal, have wings, and are amazing warriors. She is no doubt, one of the best warriors in the world. We have watched her fight guards with no mercy, and the powder we sniffed in her...she is as powerful as a higher being.”

There were whispers of astonishment, some were nodding in seeing the warrior in this Nephilim.

“She could take half of you down in this room,” the auctioneer pressed, “She knows her powers well and can control it. She could…” he grinned devilishly, “Takedown any Heroes’ Headquarters.”

The bidding started with three billion dollars. Some announced trading precious gems and items. The bidder traded five billion dollars with a magical flute that could call out sirens.

“Our final piece is a Nephilim, eight hundred years old. He has a history against the Archangel, a history of burning down the Seers’ home, and resurrection of a Prince of Hell, sacrificing his own blood,” the auctioneer cleared his throat and fixed his tie, “Before we reveal this wonderful creature, the bidding will start no less than five million dollars plus three magical items.”

There were some nonchalant faces and some who were aghast of how much to pay for this one creature. Some understand from their facial expression why the price was so high. Others stood up and stormed out of the room, jealously written all over their faces in not having such items as those.

Kate managed to go to the first row and sit down with some glaring faces at her. All of them wondered who this person was daring to take a seat in a high seat. Did she pay a lot of money like they did a wonderful seat to see close up on the items, or was she a higher being that no one saw coming?

Guards positioned themselves all around the cage surrounding it as it went to a stop. They stood stiffly and one of them yanked off the cover, the only sound as it whooshed down and the cloth dropped to the floor when the guards took it away.

A gasp came out from the crowd. Even the auctioneer was speechless. The person in the cage wasn’t a boy...but a girl, standing silently, her eyes glaring in the awestruck crowd.

The auctioneer chuckled, his mind racing out all the possibilities of what happened wrongly. Maybe it was a girl instead of a guy who did the damage. No, he was certain it was a guy. He met him before the event happened.

Even the guards seemed confused and some clicked off their safety.

The auctioneer said with a fake smile, “So, girl, where is the guy that was supposed to be here?”

The girl slowly turned her head sideways to him, dismissing all the guards’ guns pointing toaster. She shrugged as if he was just asking her what she wanted for dinner.

She said, barely audible across the stadium, her long tangled hair covering her facial expression, “I killed him.”

There were gasps and some just sat there in silence in complete distraught over of what they just heard.

The auctioneer was about to choke in hysterically, “You killed him?”

The girl looked down at her hands, a shiny blade poking out, “Michael’s orders.”

Another gasp came from the audience and someone screamed, “Kill her!”

The guards cocked their guns and were ready to aim, but she said, “Kill me without knowing who I am? I could be a valuable assist with anyone brought me.”

“So, who are you?” the auctioneer questioned, trying not to sound interested.

The girl, who was fourteen old Sara, sighed loudly with much dramatic tone, “Just a boring human.”

“Just fucking kill her!” a vampire hissed.

Kate jumped on the stage before any guards could react. Some yanked their guns towards her, “You aren’t killing my friend.” She grabbed her pistol and shot a bullet up in the air.

Many villains jerked up from their chairs and others sparkled out their powers and magic from their hands. Kate felt her blood rush with adrenaline. She clutched her hands. They had to be cautious of how they played this. There were no angels outside to help them if hell broke loose. It was just them.

Kate grabbed a mic from the stunned auctioneer. No one here didn’t know who she was...hopefully. Yet. She took a quick look at the guards, their hands still, not shaking. They don’t know who they were...good. She put the microphone to her lips and said, “You are a disgrace to own these creatures without their permission. Force them to submission—“

Her friend cut Kate short, “That is called BDSM, but okay.”

Kate glared at her and continued to talk, “You are all disgrace villains that only care for your own goals and make me sick.”

A blond guard smirked, “We don’t fucking care what you feel.” He tilted the gun at her heart. He shot out a bullet and Kate stood there unimpressed. She lifted her hands and fire spread around her as a protective shield circled her, the bullet turning into specks of dust as the fire consumed it.

She flickered her eyes to her friend, and Sara and Kate locked eyes. You get them safe, I will be the distraction. She knew her friend couldn’t read minds, but they had gone over this many times. They were so close to finishing the mission.

She outcast her hands and fire blew in all directions. Screams echoed through the auditorium. A demon burned down into the starting fire.

The villains all glanced at her and some of them screamed, “It’s Katerina!”

Footsteps were rushing out of the doors and monsters were baring their teeth and throwing magic, spells, and powers at her. Her circling fire blocked her shield and blocked any of such powers and spells away from her.

The auctioneer gasped as lights started to flicker on and off. He looked at the cage where the girl stood, but as the lights turned off and back on, the girl was not in the cage. The cage door wasn’t opened or burst open about, just sat there empty.

Kate felt a burst of energy and did a wave of fire, avoiding the items and the creatures in the cage. Her eyes sparkled with delight as she saw victory. She watched all the cages, where the creatures and items; the lights flickered off and then back on, and all the items and the creatures had disappeared.

She had to give at least five minutes before disappearing also. She waited thirty seconds before raising her hands and letting on the doors in the stadium close with loud bangs. She hoped to God that her friend got out in time before she closed the doors. Her friend would have to handle the guards and the other villains, but most of the villains were at the auditorium.

Kate saw chaos everywhere and magic swirling around the dense room. She swished her hands out again and fire burst from her hands in every single direction. Finally, the building was on fire and the spotlights fell doom the walls, and crackling noises from wires burst and hung down from the ceilings; pipes and the supporters fell but avoided Kate.

The villains now were more interested in getting out than attacking. They banged against the doors, using any method to try to break free. Some blasted magic on walls, but Kate used fire protection all over the doors and walls from any powers from destroying the walls and doors to the outside. She felt herself get already tired. This was a lot of energy to use at one time, but her body welcomed it and her powers hungered to get out of her and be leashed.

She saw vampires hurdled in a corner in fear of the fire and warlocks trying to manage to get across her circling fire and kill her. More screams came out as the fire started to spread across the room. She clutched one of her hands, letting the fire roar to life and burned anything in its wake. She let the fire consume her, but she was immune to it. It was her fire, it couldn’t hurt her. The fire burned chairs, iron cages, and anything it crossed.

She enjoyed smelling the scent of smoke, not so much of the decaying flesh. She heard her phone buzz, which was also fireproof. This meant her friend was safely away and she could leave now. She closed her eyes as all the fire came to her and circled ar front of her. A portal came to life and she stepped in it, letting the portal close, before seeing the fire consume everything in its wake.

The portal vanished and she smelled smoky. She walked up to her home, feeling ashes all over her face as if she had just gone to a war zone or stood near a nuclear reaction. Her clothes were all black, but she didn’t mind it at all.

She and her friend completed the mission satisfying and safe.

Kate’s heartbeat was happily beating and she couldn’t believe the mission was that easy. She was sure something was going to go wrong.

Katerina Dixon grinned ear to ear and knew everything was going to be fine.

***

Thomas Pitch lunged on the leather sofa and swallowed down alcohol in a dimmed lighted room, “You think I would lie to you?” He stared back at his boss and yawned, stretching out his legs, “It was quite a showing. Although it wasn’t just Katerina, someone was there in helping her. Her friend or whatever had escaped along with the people in the cage.”

And all the items also,” concluded the boss.

Pitch snickered, “Yes.” He poured whiskey into his glass and gave a small toast to his boss, “Honestly, not surprised. I heard rumors that the heroes knew where this place auction was this year. But everyone decided to ignore that, just putting in more secretaries and guards.” He shook his head in disapproval,l “And they thought Michael could not bypass their stupid guards. Of course, Michael sent his little minions to do his dirty work.” He sighed, pouring whiskey down his throat, letting it burn as strongly as the fire did in the building. He grabbed the rotate and clicked on the television. CNN was reporting a fire burning down a building in France: “Thankfully, the fire somehow only stayed on that building and didn’t spread. It’s a miracle!”

Pitch’s boss frowned, “Looks like Katerina has gotten stronger. She managed to keep a fire contained in one area when she left.”

“She’s smart,” Pitch said, “Didn’t want to hurt anyone else besides us villains.” He put his empty glass down and wiggled his toes in his socks, “I bumped into her accidentally. At first, I thought she was just a watcher to come to just see the show. But I recognized her face and her voice.”

His boss went a little stiff, but relaxed in his chair, drinking his bourbon, “Did she notice you?”

“Of course not,” Pitch replied, “I immediately left when I realized who she was. Thankfully she was pretending to be interested in something else and that’s when I turned my face and kept going.”

Lucifer smirked, “And you said her helper was also a girl?”

“Most definitely,” answered Pitch. “Unfortunately, her hair was covering her face…”

“She did that on purpose, you know she did. Didn’t want herself recognized. Do you remember the color of her hair?” Lucifer turned his attention to the television as it showed firefighters easily burning out the fire, none of them hurt.

The reporter said on the television: “There was nobody in there. Thankfully, empty.”

“And she burned all the fingerprints, everything that was in there. The demons evacuated when they heard the sirens and the rest of the monsters went back to their homes,” said Pitch. “The most strange thing about this whole disaster, the lights kept flickering on and off.”

Lucifer tapped his fingers on his chair, thinking, “Perhaps the fire had damaged the electricity? Making it flicker on and off?”

Pitch shook his head and sat up on the sofa, “No. The lights flickered off and on to a rhyme. It flickered off, and the girl with the caged people and items disappeared, and on when the cages were empty.”

They sat there thoughtfully, watching the news inattentively.

Lucifer asked, “You didn’t sense any powers from the helper?”

Pitch shook his head again, “No. She was a human alright.”

“Then how did she get out so fast without the guards blocking her way, then get the items and the people out the cage in with the flickering of the lights?” Lucifer crossed his legs, shook his head a little in thinking, and his finger in a thoughtful pose, “Something is missing. I don’t like it. Not the items were gone, but...the mission went too smoothly. They had to use some kinds of powers. The girl at least had to, and the lights flickering on and off wouldn’t fit Kate’s powers descriptions. Unless she had hidden powers all along.”

“Lucifer, warlocks were throwing spells, and demons were using powers to contain the fire and stop Katerina. It was hard to notice and sense if the girl indeed have powers, and I was concentrating on her and Katerina,” admitted Pitch.

“And you would’ve sense powers from her, you are too good not to,” added Lucifer.

“I sensed powers from Katerina.”

“So we concluded, Katerina upgraded, the girl doesn’t have powers, and all the items and creatures are with Michael. I wish I knew who the girl was.”

“Probably a friend, she was joking about with Katerina, commenting something about BDSM,” laughed Pitch. But deep inside him, Pitch felt like he had met this helper before.

Lucifer sighed and delicately moved his fingers, letting random sparks fly out of his fingers, “My brother is getting stronger by the second. I need to stop him.” he continued, “Asmodeus called me and told me that someone was joking about the sword.” Lucifer frowned, “I wished that wasn’t a damn joke. I need that sword. Give me an upper hand, but right now, the villains—no, I am falling into pieces and I don’t know what to do.”

Pitch leaned into his friend and wanted to gently grab his hands and say that it was going to be okay. He knew Lucifer was severely depressed and his friend saying that out loud, was hard for him to confess. Lucifer never opened up to anything, but it was obvious as Pitch was the Devil’s closest friend.

Pitch decided to make a plan. “Lucifer, I think we need to go on an adventure.”

Lucifer furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, “Us?”

Pitch grinned, happy to get his friend’s attention. He scooted at the edge of the sofa, facing close to Lucifer, “I think, we should fuck up the heroes.”

“Meaning?” Lucifer inquired, but his eyes pipped interest. Something to put off his mind while he was trying to recover.

Pitch grinned, “We should start setting rumors that I am alive...and I am planning to do something. The news will make Michael’s head spin and he will be distracted by this—while we look for the sword. We all know Michael knows more information about the sword than we do. He is obviously hiding something, so, if you, my dearest friend, manage to get Michael’s sidekick all whelmed up with this news, you can send your sidekicks and yourself, saying you would like me executed, or some shit, to cover up your lie, and somehow, get some information of where the sword is.”

Lucifer’s eyes glanced at his best friend. He bit down gently on his finger, his gears starting to roll in his head. His dark chocolate eyes shone out the possibilities and after a few seconds, he nodded, “First, let's think of how we will handle this. We can’t just do this. We need to think this over some time.” He stood up and grabbed his phone, “Let me call the rest of my friends, and we can get this ball rolling.” He stopped and looked into nothingness for a few seconds and then winked at Pitch, “You are a genius.”

Pitch’s heart swelled up and he was happy to oblige.

The warlock said with a gentle voice but there was some emotion to it, “Lucifer, I will do anything for you.” I love you.

Lucifer smiled, “Now, don’t get sentimental on me, Pitch. As we are talking, I know this plan will take a few years to complete. It’s no easy task.” He paused as he stared down at his phone and took a few steps to Pitch, “You know I would never use you, right? You are my only friend I would give anything for.”

Pitch responded, “I know you would never...but Michael would.”

Lucifer’s eyes glared at the mention of his brother in disgust, “You are right, Michael uses everyone to his advantage. I admit, I do that sometimes, but not to everyone.” Lucifer spat, “And people call me the villain.”

Pitch grabbed Lucifer’s hands unexpectedly, and his friend looked at him startled, “You were never the murder, Lucifer It wasn't your fault.”

Lucifer cast his head down and his voice choked, “I just want her back. I would give anything to come back.”

Thomas Pitch, the most powerful warlock, leaned in and hugged his dearest friend. They have been so much together; Lucifer always supported him. Now it was his turn to support the only friend who truly understood him. He felt the smooth silk of Lucifer’s shirt and the warmth of his body, “Lucifer, me too. I want her back.”

Lucifer swallowed, embracing his friend's huge, “Nothing can bring her back.”

Pitch answered, “You have us, Lucifer. Don’t forget that.”

Lucifer bit down his lips and Pitch knew, that nothing and not even him could fill that empty hole. At least, he could try to be there for his grieving friend, “You aren’t weak, for missing her all these years. And don’t ever think you aren’t entitled to grieve”

“I know,” sighed Lucifer, and Pitch felt the warm breath on his neck. He felt goosebumps go all over his body. Lucifer pushed away gently from the hug. Pitch expected to see tears from Lucifer’s eyes, but all he saw was hatred, “Let’s get working.”

Pitch smiled hardly, “That's more like you.” He dug his hand in his pockets and took out a jewel with a shining ruby that was showcased in the auction, “Before every item disappeared, I snatched this one. Don’t ask me how.” He put the jewel in Lucifer’s ready hands, “Lucifer,” he whispered in his friend’s ear, “Give this to someone that you loved as much as her.”

He saw Lucifer’s eyes filled with dread, “Pitch, I will never love anyone else as I did with her.”

Pitch hushed his voice down a notch, “Lucifer, you may never love someone the same way you loved her, but one day, I promise, you will love someone differently but with the amount of love you showed your sister. It might take a long time, but eventually, you will find someone better than me!”

He saw his friend’s eyes fill with doubt and a smirk on his face. Pitch dangled the jewel in his hands, expecting Lucifer to decline the offer.

But his friend took it gently, examining every aspect of the wonderfully made necklace. He stared at Thomas Pitch's eager eyes with much sternness, “You better not break your promise.”