?Mmm, slap my momma and call me Sheila, that?s a damn good beer!? James declared as he knocked the knuckles of one hand against the copper drum while the other lowered the empty tasting glass to his side. ?Let?s get some of this kegged and moved to the taps upstairs for this week Shawn. Something this good ?sjust gotta be shared.? His tone was happier than his smile was as it was still shy of reaching the corners of his eyes.

?Sure thing boss!?

In the middle of nodding to him, James spotted one of the waitresses, Marie peer anxiously around as she came down the carved steps that led from the main floor. ?Uh?.boss?? Her voice was fragile, ready to break down and give way to the tears she was trying to hold back.

?Yeah, what?s up?wait what?s wrong?? The humor from seconds ago was fading fast as James and Shawn turned to the young woman of elvish mix and teal and lilac colored dreads.

?Lou said to come get you. There?s so many people, they?ve flooded the streets and?.they?re coming inside and just --- Lou thinks they?re going to riot and said if they try to harm the building?.? Marie couldn?t stop the tears spilling now, but she didn?t need to add anything further.

Not when the ground below them and the walls around them suddenly shook with a fierce terror. Energy reverberated through everything around the trio and while Shawn reached out to catch Marie before she tumbled to the ground, James was shooting a look upwards.

?Least I know the wards work?? he muttered while fishing his phone from his pocket. ?Stay down here where it?s safe. I?ll call for some reinforcements and we?ll get this taken care of,? said over his shoulder as he climbed up the stairs for the main floor of The Lost Pub.