Auric let loose a heavy sigh after the door to his sister's apartment clicked closed behind him. He didn't look back once on his way through her building and out, but his thoughts were back there with his twin. This was not the life they were meant to have. This was not the place they were meant to be. This Rhydin was too wild, too dangerous and if he was going to get them home, drastic things had to be done. He couldn't let Seren know what he was up to, either. She would never approve.

He strode quickly away from her building, keeping to the shadows and back ways to keep from being seen. It was a fruitless effort, of course. The eyes were always watching and nothing he did could stop them from seeing. Still, he felt compelled to try.

His apartment was clear on the other side of the marketplace, several blocks away. Seren hadn't wanted to live together anymore than he had, but he wanted to be close enough if he was needed the walk only took a few minutes and at a dead run" He'd practiced.

A black car idled outside the front door of his building and he swore when he saw it. Victor was not supposed to be here yet. They were too early. That wasn't a good sign. He slowed his steps as he approached, face neutral and hands loose at his sides. He was only a few steps away when the read door opened and his current employer slid out.

Victor was the only name the name used, but Auric knew him by another he dared not speak. It was a secret weapon, one he hoped never to need. The man was tall, too tall, thin, and pale. His close cropped hair was so blond it was nearly white and his eyes a deep mulberry red. When he smiled he showed far too many teeth, including two fangs that were perfect for ripping out a man's throat.

"Auric! Your sister is very lovely," the pale man intoned, his voice a silky baritone. His charm was turned on. "You should introduce me."

"Seren is off limits, Victor," he replied stonily.

"Seren?" Victor sounded pleased at this information. "Ah, lovely name for a lovely girl!" When Auric didn't reply to this he went on: "I really like her books. Such an imagination she has, so naughty....is she writing from personal experience?"

"I swear on every god there is I will kill you if you go near her," he said in an even tone. Auric didn't need anger to get his point across. Victor only laughed and put up his hands.

"Off limits." Auric didn't trust the man any more than his sister did. Now he had even less of a reason.

"So what is this business you need done, Victor."

"Always so official with you," the pale demon replied. Auric's eyes narrowed, but Victor went on. "I need you to collect something for me. From a former associate."

Auric stood still and silent, waiting for the details. He knew this game and he wouldn't play it. Victor sighed again and withdrew an envelope from the inner pocket of his suit jacket. He held it out, but quickly pulled it away when Auric reached for it. "This needs to be done now. Tonight."

"Very well." Auric held his hand out for the envelope, his ice blue eyes locked onto his employer's red. And now they were much more red than before. "It will be done tonight," he agreed and received the envelope for the promise.

"Try not to die. Good help is so hard to find."

Auric didn't reply as he headed off. ————————————————————————— ——————— It had seemed like it should have been an easy job. Victor's "former associate" was a lab rat who had been easily lured out of his lair. The man wasn't a fighter at all and only took a stern look from Auric to run with his tail tucked between his legs. Auric couldn't figure out why he was sent for this.

That is until he was interrupted in his search of the lab by a man as large as a house.

They hadn't shared any words, but Auric suspected he was the errand boy of one of Victor's competitors. He still didn't know what was so special about the stone dust he'd managed to beat the hulk for, but he was sure he was going to find out in return for bumps and bruises its procurement had earned him.

He had brought the iron box to his employer. Just not before getting himself a small phial of the stuff. Now to find someone who knew stone. Back home he knew a handful of black market alchemists who would have been able to identify it for him. Here" He didn't even know where to start.

Or maybe he did. He headed to the Red Dragon, constantly checking his phone, waiting for the call he knew would come. When it did he was ready.

"I'm fine, Seren." She was practically yelling through the phone. "It's nothing." He was nearly to the Inn now. He listened to her lecturing all the way up the steps. "No. You stay there. I'll stop by on my way home." Hand on the door he paused. "I'll see you soon."

He slid the phone into his pocket as he headed through the door. He always kept his word, but first he had business to take care of. Something to check.