down.”
“I will NOT calm down!”
Jess waved her staff and Murmur saw his armor start to glow. As he looked down, he saw the word “DUMBASS” appear in red, dripping letters on his armor. He laughed and defensively held up both hands.
“Jess, it wasn’t Muan. I’m positive.”
“How can you be sure of that?”
“First of all, I don’t think Nightmare and Astaroth capable of catching the little bastard. He’s quick and he’s currently with Shadow. He’s in command of several armies. The Archangel Gabriel is there with them. How in fuck’s name would they have pulled that off?”
Aim walked into the room.
“He makes a good point, sis.”
Jess waved her staff without looking at her brother. Two pieces of duct tape in the shape of a letter “X” floated towards his face and attached to his mouth.
“Second, the demon wasn’t wearing that necklace Muan has. The one that lets him change into animals.”
“The necklace of Iktomi?”
“Right. That thing.”
“And it didn’t occur to you that they could have simply taken it away from Muan after they captured him?”
Aim made a bunch of unintelligible sounds and then struggled to remove the duct tape from his mouth. Jess’s spell kept it in place.
“Third, I have spies watching Astaroth. She’s been experimenting with black magic that allows her to briefly make a demon look like another demon.”
“That’s some advanced spellcasting.”
“She’s a generally a poison-brewing bitch but I know she’s experimented with magic before to aid her poison making. I trust the reports I’ve received.”
“I’m not convinced.”
“Fine. Fourth, Shadow told me Muan is still alive. He’s currently taking the form of a crow and following a memory stealing demon named Bumalin in the Philippines.”
“Oh. Well why didn’t you tell me that to begin with?”
“Watching you be angry is amusing and I needed a good laugh.”
Jess waved her staff again and stomped out of the room. Murmur looked down and saw the lettering on his armor change to the word “ASSHOLE.” He laughed. Aim finally removed the duct tape from his mouth.
“Look, I know you’re friends with Shadow but we really need to consider accepting Nightmare’s offer. We’re outnumbered down here and Shadow won’t be coming back to help us any time soon. Have you thought about what we’re going to do if Nightmare and Astaroth combine forces and attack us?”
“I know you like giving strategic advice and you’re worried they’ll figure out where my loyalties lie, but they still think I’m on their side. I told you there plan. They don’t plan on doing anything until Shadow, Leech, and Lilith return. They might be prompted into action sooner if they receive word that one of them has died. All things considered, we’re doing alright for right now though.”
“So no backup plan? What if they figure out that you played them? What if they go back on the deal they offered you? What if they just wake up one morning and decide they want you dead? What then?”
“Then we need to be ready. Thoughts?”
Aim nodded.
“I’ve been thinking about what we can do to even the odds. While the Dragon is on Earth hunting down Abaddon, his legendary weapons are left basically unguarded. I mean… I’m sure they’re guarded, but nowhere near the point that they usually are. Nightmare took the berserker staff and fused it with his scythe. We need to make sure we start collecting similar items that would turn a battle in our favor.”
“I have Dragonscale and Cain’s armor.”
“Yes… you have those things. What if Nightmare kills you? We’re kind of screwed at that point.”
“I honestly don’t care what happens to you dumbasses if I’m killed. I’ll be dead. Kind of pointless to try to care about things when you’re dead, right?”
“That wasn’t my point. My point was to fortify the rest of your army with gear that will keep them alive longer than the other armies. Jess