Devil’s Royalty

The Sentinel

She was trying to keep her excitement in check. She had just gotten off the phone with Edna. The woman had put some thought into it and was ready to retire. It was odd situation though she had wanted their meeting at the McConnells. The other community she had been apart of had just held a vote and that was it. Though it shouldn't surprise her, nothing that happened here was really that normal. It was a typical lake shore town. The big oversized houses with furnished front porches, well manicured lawns and fences hidding lush gardens. There was even a little shopping area with a few restaurants like most resort towns. There always seemed to be outside visitors from all over the place. With the exception a very few people no one seemed overly friendly to anyone. Only when talking about the McConnells did the place liven up. It seemed almost everyone that lived here, knew them, or they had told them about this place. Edna had been very tight lipped about the meeting at McConnell manor. All that she knew was the mansion predated any of the historical homes and most of the land that the community was on belonged to them. The rumor was they were a nice older couple whom shared their collections world wide in museums. In their youth they had been archeologists, and anthropologists. She, herself, had been dying to even see the house let alone to meet them since she moved in. She was driving through the center of town it had rained this morning so the blacktop was still steaming in the light. Edna had mentioned that she needed to call ahead to let them know she had accepted. She was excited, did this mean she'd be meeting them. Or was there some sort of soiree after she accepted. She parked at the local cafe fidgeting with her phone she noted the phone call was made an hour ago. She still had another half hour to kill. She looked in her rear veiw mirror, and thought she had seen something. Shutting the car off she turned to look. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught what she thought was a shadow. She grabbed her purse and ducked into the cafe. After a few moments of feeling silly she strugged it off and ordered a drink. She decided to do a little nosing around and pulled her phone out. She did a general search for the name McConnell. She rolled her eyes, like it was going to be that easy, that search alone brought up hundreds of people. After a few more attempts she had found a little information about them. They owned a few museums and the Mrs. was curator of the one not to far from town. The husband, had a playboy lifestyle, or so said the article, but cared deeply about antiquity. The family atleast here dated back to first world war and they settled up on the hill by the lake. Over the years they have sold off land to create the community, but that was it. There were no pictures of them anywhere on the internet. No information about them other then that one article. She set her phone down, and took a sip of her coffee. She needed to calm down, there were so many questions she wanted to ask. A server came up to her, and nonchalantly glanced at her phone screen.

" Are you interested in them? " the man asked motioning at her phone. She looked at him and flipped it over.

"I was just on the town site and it ported me the story. Nothing to really be curious about right? Just a nice older couple trying to live out their lives." He pulled his pad out and smiled.

"Yeah i guess your right. My fault for asking. Are you interested in anything or just the coffee?" She shook her head.

"No, ill just pay now, i have to be going. " she smiled as he wrote up her bill. It was just then she noticed the little black dachshund sitting at the cafe bar. The man caught her stare.

"Don't mind Mon, he's a good boy, he likes to keep an eye on me. " She looked at the little dog and shrugged again. She paid and left cafe going back out to her car. The man watched as she left looking back to the little demon sitting at the bar.

"Boy, they are going to have their hands full aren't they. " The server sat next to the demon giving him a drink.The little black demon with the whipping tail and small black wings just started to laugh.

"It will do my masters some good to have someone new. " the demon took a sip and relaxed at the bar. They both laughed now as they watched her pull out of her spot.

As she started her drive towards the mansion her stomach was in knots what if they hated her. What if they said no, what if Edna changed her mind. She nervously tapped her stirring wheel as she turned onto a street she had never been before. These were the historic homes. They lined the shoreline and belonged to the older families, and the resort homes. These were the rental homes for the out of towners. She had never even driven up this road. Other then when she had met Edna for the first time. When she had moved in a few years ago, she had been invited to a cook out there. She tried to remember which was hers but it had been so long ago she had forgotten. The road ran right beside the lake and curved into a wooded area ahead. According to her GPS she would be to the McConnell's in a few minutes. She wondered if they lived so close how come she had never run into atleast the mrs at the store or at any of the events Enda had planned. The navigation said she had arrived at her destination. All she saw was the gate, a large wrought iron beast, that didn't seem to want anyone to come in. It ran parallel with massive well hidden hedges that seemed as tall as the trees that surrounded it. She noticed a call box inbedded in the stone pillar, and rolled her window down. "Eh hello there, this is Stephanie Martin, I have a meeting today, with the McConnells and Enda Griffin. " it was silent for what seemed forever, and then a woman's voice answered, "ah yes you are expected," the iron beast relented slowly receding into the hedge opening up to the driveway to the house. She rolled her window up and just about squealed with excitement, who was that woman, was she their caretaker was she a maid, did they have a staff. She had no idea what she was driving head long into.

I sighed deeply, I could hear her squeal. This Stephanie sounded like she was cheerful and curious this was going to put a damper on the museum our museum outting. I was buried in documents mostly insurance claims and requisites for the artifacts from the museum.

"Kar, did we get a the bill of sell from the new property in Beijing yet?" The demon appeared with a rolled paper.

"It's right here Mrs, " he handed me a rolled paper. I slipped my glasses down to the bridge of my nose and started to read over the fine print. I tapped a pen on the desk. Then rested the pen to my lips and softly traced them as i read. Where the hell was he, I'm not going to face them alone.

" Furrowed brow, worry lines, and pouty lips, scared i wouldnt show up my darling." He leaned aginst the door jam with his arms crossed. I looked up at him over my glasses and bit my bottom lip. He wore a pair of black pants, a gray vest that hugged his muscular form and crisp white dress shirt with the arms rolled up. His hair and beard were still mussed from this morning. "Now that is a look i love on you." He glided over to me soundlessly and smuggly sat on the desk. He picked up the the Beijing paperwork. " I see our new dragon works fast." he leaned over and put his finger under my chin as he closed my hanging mouth. I shook my head and snactched my papers back.

"Oh Niki you always know what to say to a gir.l" I ran my fingers up his back.' He shivered and smiled down at me. "Your looking extra chipper this morning, you must have figured out the dagger." He smiled and slipped it out of his pocket.

"Activated yes, figured out, no but i have my theories," he leaned over and kissed my forehead. All i wanted to to do was throw him down on the desk, but i resisted.

"Ah so you have no clue yet do you. " I smiled at him as he kicked his feet out and laid back on desk. He wriggled closer to me causing more of my papers to fall to the floor. I shook my head again, my brain was getting foggy and i didnt like it.

"I didn't say that now did i" He rested his head on my bosom his hair smelled like our bed, i unconsciously ran my hand through his hair.

"No you didnt," i leaned down to kiss him. He was playing with the dagger. A little voice in my head screamed get rid of that thing. I slipped my hand down his arm as i kept his lips locked with mine. My fingers wrapped around the hilt and i threw it across the room. Within seconds my head cleared and he lay there smirking as Kar walked in.

"The woman has approached the house should i make myself scarce masters." I stood up letting his head hit the desk.

"No Kar, keep all of you on full alert. Take the mastiff forms outside and the dachshund forms in the house. We dont know if either of them was followed. " Kar looked down at him and the to me, he nodded.The little demon bowed and chuckled softly as he disappeared.

"You see Christina, he has the right idea we could just disapate into the smoke." He sat up and saw the dagger inbedded in the stone wall. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out his recorder. " It seems my wife did not enjoy the dagger. Judging by her reaction it seems to heighten a person's attraction level. She has taken it from me and thrown it into the wall. I will recover it for later testing." He clicked it off and slipped it back in his pocket.I took my seat again leaning back in the chair.

" Is that what you thought would happen? " I let Nikola stretch out on the desk like a giant cat as i awaited an answer. I always wanted him, but something had tugged at the beast inside. It wasn't normal. He rolled on his side and looked at me.

"I had thought it had something to do with attraction but i wasn't sure. I figured you would be the safest one to test it on. " I couldn't fault him. "You are right there, we have learned about testing infatuation artifacts on others, but," i continued," It wasn't normal. It was an encompassing feeling like i'd drown without your touch. It was very disconcerting." I licked my lips a little nervous. He took my hands.

"Would you feel better if i had Kar put it back in lockdown till after this meeting?" i nodded.

"I feel it is safer for all parties atleast until the humans have left for the day." It was his turn to smirk. He took my hand, "As you wish my darling." my desk phone rang. I just looked at a little bewildered. The only person that used that number was the sentinel. Nikola smiled sadly and patted my hand. "It was her choice to step down Christina. Atleast she's just retiring, you can still see her, and she's picking her replacement. " I nodded and reached for the phone.

"Hello Edna."

Every time she came here she was still in awe. It had been 40 years since she joined Hollownest, and neither one of them had changed one bit. They were timeless warriors, still raging that battle from all those years ago. Trying to protect the unknown from the beating prying hands of the world. She had helped them save so many over the years. Helped them build this town, give the refugees a safe place. It hurt to know that her own family could have cost her, her lifes work. She couldn't think of that now. She had to make sure this girl could do her job. Make sure that she would be a useful tool in the good work that was to come. She had called Christina's office to let her know she had arrived. She hadn't left her car yet. She saw Kar waiting at the door to show her in. She reached into her bag and grabbed a few dog treats. She walked up the stairs to the front door. She reached down and scratched the demon behind the ears and gave him his treats.

"Good afternoon Kar our usual room i suspect?" the demon happily munching his treat nodded. As the woman entered the demon shut the door behind her. She was met with the flurry of black shadowy dachshunds looking for their treats. She had seen this a million times. Kar true form could be a little unnerving for someone who wasn't use to him. One by one the dogs returned to their posts. She had had some of best memories here, and had even met her husband here. She smiled as she rested at on the windows looking out to the grounds. She was not ready to let go yet, she had a few more good years in her yet. She looked at her reflection in the window. She was a little more tired now and moved a little slower. Maybe she could stay on and help with the day to day running of stuff. She may not be able to be a fighter any more but she could definitely still help that way. She smiled and nodded at herself as she walked towards the sunroom.

I hung up the phone, "Edna wants to hold the meeting in the sunroom." I had been watching Nikola try to remove the dagger from the wall. I was throughly entertained, almost to the point of forgetting i was firing my best friend. He grunted and with a loud clunk, it and he fell to floor.

"OUCH!!," I snickered softly and got up from the desk, " We have to get moving darling, that Stephanie, we be upon us shortly and i want to be up to speed, before the questions start. " He looked up at me from the floor.

"You know from this angle i can see right up that skirt you naughty wolf." i walked right passed him, trying not to bait him further. I knew i was still feeling the effects of the dagger, who knew if he was too. I called for Kar, and before i could turn to face him, he appreared. I took the dagger from Nikki again and handed it to the demon.

"Could you please return this thing to containment. Nikola smuggled it out, to try it's effects on me." I handed it to the demon and he nodded before disappearing again. My head was pounding slightly, it was a warning sign my beast was pushing against my control. I took a few deep breaths and walked out of my office. Towards one of the open hallway windows i had stopped by this morning. The lake had calmed from this morning and the trees glittered with raindrops. He came up behind me placing a hand on my shoulder. "Everything is going to be just fine. It is just the passing of the sentinel, we have down this hundreds of times." he squeezed my shoulders softly. "Like i said she isn't dead. You will see her all the time if you so chose. " I turned to face him. For all his short comings, and selfish acts, when it really counted, he knew just what to say to calm me down. I smiled and leaned my head on his hand.

"You know just what to say sometimes Nikola, Thank you." i turned and wrapped my arms around his neck sinking into a kiss. He broke from the kiss first and took my hand. We walked down the hallway towards the sunroom hand in hand. We had reached the door at the same time Edna did. She apologized porfusely again for shooting Nikola in the face. The big ham started as soon as we sat down she was never going to live.it.down.

"Don't look at me im hideous, " He turned away from her and hid his face in the chair. I rolled my eyes at his behavior.

"I would like to start by saying, Edna you don't have to step down. You are as much a part of our organization as we are. " She held her hand up.

" Christina, you aren't going to talk me out of it. I put this whole organization at risk. It is time for me to take on a different roll. I cannot be the sentinel anymore. I have selected Stephanie Martin to be my replacement, and that is my final word on the matter." I nodded.

"Well until Miss Martin arrives our business is at a stand still. " Nikola followed my lead and stood holding his hand to me as we left the sun room. He leaned in and whispered

as the door closed

"See was that so hard."