Deals and Debts | Stephanie & Niphon
Life hasn't been great since the last time Stephanie talked to Kaleb. He had agreed to help her on the nearly impossible mission that was finding Zane Turner's contract, in order to check if there was anything they could use anything to prove the existence of a loophole. She didn't thin for a second that this would work out, but still, she wouldn't give up that easily. Getting her own soul back was only something that reminded her that well, doing the impossible seemed to always lead to doing the good, and she wouldn't be crazy enough to turn down such opportunity at this point in her life. But of course, there was no way she could do it alone. The first time, she's had help; lots of it. It took a human, a succubus, a nephilim, a fallen angel and a demon to make it happen. And therefore, now would be just as hard, and she would need as much help as she could get.
Kaleb, the only imp she hadn't yet pushed away because, unlike many, he was actually decent. The poor man barely had any memories left, and certainly that killed half of his personality, too. Whether he was doing it because of himself, because of her, or for the greater good, it didn't matter. What matters is that even if this was just a small step towards their goal, it was important that they were determined enough to do whatever it takes to get what they wanted. The power of all the people involved should be greater than Hell, and once again, it would break loose. If losing one soul to the hands of a human had been terrible enough and had shaken them to the core, she could already imagine the smile she would be wearing for weeks to come after their second strike. Was it a revolution starting? It certainly did feel like it.
But of course, things would be a whole lot easier if the key to their next move wasn't MIA. The imp full of promises was nowhere to be found, at least not when she needed him to. Stephanie was clueless to anything else in his life— where he lived, what his phone number was, or even where he worked. It seemed ridiculous that she already deposited such a great amount of her trust in a man she barely knew. But her intuitions had gotten her there so far, so who was she to doubt the voices inside her own head? It seemed like believing in his words would only help with the great plans she had in mind, even if there would be a few unfortunate twists along the way. Most good things in life came with the risk of something bad, she would know. And if by any means this reckless connection to one of the workers of Hell would get her anywhere, she was in for the ride.
There was a long way to go, between finding him and moving to what really needed to be done. Naturally, she started with the pub. She hasn't been there in ages, and she was reminded of just why when she stepped inside. All eyes were on her, for her soul was the brightest thing in a 200 miles ratio. She could feel the awkward between her and the damned, but was forced to ignore it if she wanted to be done with it as soon as possible. A few men were leaned against the bar, and some sitting on the few stools that weren't broken. That place was a wreck, and to think she actually helped destroy it once upon a time. Stephanie kept her chin up, as she always did, and pretended like they didn't affect her, as if it was the truth.
"Hey, Zane!" She called the bartender standing far back, on the other side of the bar, preparing drinks and taking a few more orders. He held his hand up to her, telling her to wait, but she shook her head and shot him the if you don't get here now I will murder your whole family look, which finally made him leave the drunk bastards he was serving behind. He walked almost too slowly for her taste, but since her yelling already brought enough attention to herself (not that she needed any more), Stephanie decided to behave, and simply wait. For now. As he got closer, a boring look on his face, she knew he was already preparing himself for bad news. Instead of asking what happened, he just stood there, waiting for her to talk. So naturally, she did. "Relax, it's nothing bad, I don't think. It's just Kaleb, he's going to help us." She told him, and he exhaled in relief, but she was quick to cut him off. "Don't get too excited. I haven't seen him in a while, and without him, we have nothing. He didn't stop by, did he?"
Zane gave it some thought, before shaking his head. "No, I don't think so. I don't think he's been here since you two talked." He looked at her suspiciously. "Yeah, I saw that. What the fuck was that, anyway?"
"Shut up, it's none of your business." She snapped. "I don't know why, but I have the feeling that he's gonna drop out. Might as well try and find another imp, which probably won't be easy. Now, since he isn't here and we probably won't get shit done until luck, fate, or some weird pagan Goddess is on our side, you might as well get me a drink. You know, as payment for being such a kind, loving, smart, dedicated—" He walked away before she could finish her list of unrealistic attributes, and for some reason she didn't think he would come back with her drink. Or come back at all, that is. The human rolled her eyes, defeated by the whole situation, and the fact that they might never make a free man out of that rude bartender. Running her fingers nervously through her hair and looking around, she found someone's eyes on her. Well, in that place, almost everyone couldn't help but check on her every two or three minutes, and by that moment, she was already sick of it, enough to make herself understood.
"What the fuck are you looking at?" She asked, the the outrage lurked beneath her words, never quite surfacing. For a brief second she wondered if she had seen him before; his face did look familiar, but not enough to give it a name. But between asking if they knew each other and being a smartass, guess which option she decided to go with? "Stop being a creep before I replace the olives in your drink with your eyeballs. And a martini, seriously? That's probably the worst fucking drink you could order."
