Demon Vepar I

Abram went to take one last drink before getting ready for his first operation as a captain, a very surreal idea for him all around.

''You look very concerned today Rush.''

Abram couldn't help but notice the bar owner and bartender seemed out of himself as his cheerful persona was completely gone and the usual chatty patron was as silent as a grave today. Rush heard him, but it took him a moment to finally answer.

"I had a very rough last few days. We heard something about snakes. The great majority of them, are simply gone. Hell, someone took out the boss of the wolves and they are all biting each other's heads now as well. Talk about a hard week for me. Keeping tabs on the two of them is a mess right now.''

''All of that sounds like good news to me.'' Abram took his glass. He was a bit concerned about the snakes, as far as he was aware, that had nothing to do with them.

''They are good news to me too, but, man, I don't know. In just a couple of months, these two gangs that have been a nightmare in our district for over a decade have been reduced to nothing. Whoever is doing this is terribly dangerous. They may be people from the city. They definitely have demons and know how to fight with them. I don't like people like that in our city. "

''Right, at least you knew what the wolves and snakes were, is not nice to know so little about these people.'' Abram already knew people weren't going to celebrate their actions. It was hard, but he probably would have felt the same in his own shoes. This sort of drastic, sudden change was always unnerving.

''There are a lot of small gangs coming out of the woodwork with the top dogs out of the picture. There is nothing I can't handle, but there is a lot more work on my plate, but hell, this is probably some necessary pain. There was nothing good about the snakes or the wolves. ''

''You think this assassin is going to attack again?'' Rush looked at the glass he was cleaning and left it in place. He leaned on the counter, scratching his head.

''If they are trying to kill the leaders of the gangs, the only one left is the worm queen. Cornelia Lutz. I don't know much about her. The worms rarely leave the sewers near the city wall. They are smugglers. I don't know how they do it, but they can get illegal stuff into the city, most of them people. "

''I imagine the snakes worked with them often. Do you know anything about this queen?''

''Why do you care about this stuff?''Abram shrugged at his cold interjection.

''No real reason, there is barely anything going on in my life."

''Honestly, as far as I know, she was some old mercenary on the outskirts, who got her hands on a devil and built a smuggler ring twenty years ago. No one had really seen her in years, so she might not even be alive anymore. She never attacked Center city, so I didn't much care for her, but I know they are heavily armed and bunkered down in there, so no one gets close unless they want to be shot to the head.''

''Well, I guess they are more of a problem for the city than us. No clue what her demon is? ''

''I heard rumors that there is something inside her body. You've seen the white demons, those monsters roaming around, a lot of people think they come from that sewer of hers. The white thralls, those repugnant things "''

''Yeah...I heard of those things.'' Abram lowered his cap as he looked at his empty glass. He had a flashback of an unlikeable memory and he would rather not show it. The bartender was looking at him with a hint of suspicion today. He was certainly on edge. "

''Whatever happens on the outskirts won't concern me, I'm only here to protect the center city and that is what I will do, so whoever is doing all this mess better keep his head out of my town.'' Rush hit the counter without any intention and nodded in apology as another customer walked in. Abram decided to leave earlier for his work. There was much he was uncertain about, but thinking too hard about it wasn't part of the job at all.

''No doubt about it, even the city doesn't get on your way boss." Abram left a tip and walked out of the bar once again.

His uncertainty had only grown. If his target may not even be alive at this point, this whole endeavor may just be a pointless risk, but there was no way anyone was going to let him walk away from this.

He meets with his team in the shadow of the city's wall. The sound of dirty water from the city sewers could be heard as well. Though still in his mind, someplace else, Abram had reached the meeting place where the rest of his team was preparing.

He had no real squad of his own, so a few of the people from other teams that were in good shape would be joining the assault. It was quite clear the hunters were short on hands all around.

''So unless I'm wrong, we are going to take all the fire by assaulting their base, but it is only a distraction till you take out their leader behind enemy lines. You won't give us any help,'' Hunt asked Abram as he put on his rifle. His twin was already looking at the entrance to the sewers with his arm at the ready.

''That is pretty much it. We aren't here to win. Just keep distracted. Sorry, that is the best my demon can do. She isn't made for a big fight like that." '' As Abram looked at the rest of the team, the only other familiar faces were Mr. Luis the brown-haired young man who gave him his usual cocky smile, and Aya, a short woman who was quiet in a corner, clearly annoyed at having to work with Luis even in this situation.

''At least you got a good look at their patrols. The map you made is really cheap looking, but we have a good advantage.''Aya spoke as she finished the maintenance on her rifle.

Abram looked at the map in his hands and handed it to Luis. He did his best, but it was still readable, more or less. He had already entered the area twice to investigate the lookouts. They wouldn't be caught before they wished to.

Abram was quite happy to at least work with a few people that he knew.

''When the fog rises, we all move inside, so be ready for that. Let us begin the operation. "'' Abram spoke to the hunters, raising his cap from his eyes as they reunited near the great wall of the city.