Interlude II The Maw of the city.

''Another of these devil thralls again. They just keep crawling out of the sewers more and more, the filthy rats. " A group of men where standing around the corpse of a white monstrous creature. They had to deal with such creatures before, but the wolves were finding them in their territory a lot more all of a sudden.

''We need to hide the corpse. We are getting guests right about now. " Everyone that remained of the wolves had reunited in the junkyard on this cold day, where the sun had been completely hidden under dark clouds that refused to rain. There was a clear discontent in the air. The usual rowdy bunch of thugs had a depressed and anxious feeling about their actions, and they lacked their wild temper now, looking at each other with uncertainty.

''The Lekov syndicate is about to arrive here, kill me already. Both the boss and our only other candidate for our leader died. What are we even supposed to do now? We can't even summon that devil anymore fro some reason... "' One of the men looked at the rest and stepped forward. Due to a lack of anyone willing to take leadership, they all simply bunkered down for the last few weeks, and the main reason for that is that they knew the syndicate wanted to speak with their leader and none of these men were willing to risk being that leader.

''The boss didn't want to join them, I'm sure she would have stood her ground against them, but she is done now and we should just join them. With all of the devil attacks lately and all the people those bastards in black killed, this may be our only chance. Rush Collins and his guard are going to come and beat us up any day. We are nothing more than prey now. "' They continue to debate among themselves, the discussion getting more heated.

''I get it, I know this is really risky, but now that we lost our only demon, they may not even want us to work for them anymore."

''Who is going to speak with them? "another man asked.

''We all will, I'll take the point someone has to make, but it is best if we all agree to this as a whole." A man with a black mustache and his hair sporting a mullet stepped forward. He was carrying a shotgun. He hadn't let go of it since the attack.

''Roland, fine, you can take care of it. So who are they sending again? "Another man asked.

''The note said it was some chick named Vera Konstantinovna Lekov. I have no clue how you even pronounce that. "

''A girl? Forget it, I bet she is just a monster like the boss. "' All of them remained in silence till one of the guards came towards them.

"There is a car coming here... a black fancy car. It has to be them right? "'' The guard asked the group and everyone there looked at each other in fear, until Roland decided to walk towards the meeting spot.

''You better not screw up, I know you really respected our boss, but she isn't around to protect us any more.'' They told Roland he had no choice but to try now.

''Everyone be on guard, I'll do my best." The men began to move. All in different directions. Some of them followed Roland and others went to their lookout spots.

It was indeed a black car, very clean and spotless, something almost no human ever sees on the outskirts. A man stepped out of the vehicle. He was a tall, lanky fellow wearing a long grey trenchcoat. He wore glasses and had a cold, emotionless stare. He didn't even seem on guard even with so many armed thugs around them. His short brown hair, well combed, was a rare thing to see on the men of the outskirts. He fixed his sight on Roland, who was in front of a metal table they had set in the middle of the junkyard.

''They sure seem like cornered dogs. Please try not to be too rough with them. " The man spoke to someone inside the car as he opened the door and stepped to the side. He looked around and saw multiple armed men around the junkyard with their weapons at the ready.

''Hahaha, this place sure has a lovely rustic charm.'' From the side of the car, a massively tall figure emerged. A long gray hand came out of the car as someone barely human came out of the car. Its legs and arms were unbelievably long. Their arms were taller than their knees. When standing tall, this creature was a full head above the man who was tall in his own right. Its head had a strangely rounded shape with a grey texture similar to the wood of a rotting tree and a single massive eye that opened in its center. Still, that creature behaved like a human. It was wearing a deep black suit with a green turtleneck sweater underneath.

''Hello everyone, I was sent here to speak with Petra, but I heard she had already been put to sleep. Is there anyone left here I can talk to? " A part of their heads opened from their center, revealing a mouth full of long, sharp teeth. The creature spoke loudly in a female voice, but it sounded more like a speaker and made the men get anxious instantly. Most of them were already pointing at their guests with their weapons.

''Yes, I will handle the negotiations. My name is Roland. We don't have a leader just yet, but we all agreed to let me take care of it. "'' Roland struggled to pass his shotgun to another man as he walked anxiously towards their guest.

''Roland... I see, You may call me Ms.Lekov or just Vera if you want to test your luck. It is great to see you all after so long. We have backed you, people, for quite some time. I just came here to see if it was worth it or not. "Her single eye stared at him as her voice rang through the junkyard. The man at her side was cleaning his glasses without much concern.

It was only these two people, Roland could barely believe the syndicate sent one of their family members completely alone, and yet, every wolf felt an absolute dread of even staring at that woman. She didn't feel like something that could even exist. They had no confidence in risking anything anymore, but Roland remained firm and they all stood quiet following his example, as she walked to the table. Roland took his seat, doing his best to stare her in the eye.

''I hope you don't mind if my fiance joins the meeting. Nikolai was quite insistent on coming here too. " Vera pointed at the man behind her with her long claw.

''Of course not miss, I don't have any problem with that.." He looked at the stoic man who seemed distracted staring at the guards on the junk pile. Fiance really? He had no idea what to even think about that, so he just didn't think about it.

''So, I heard Miss Petra didn't want to work directly for us and was ready to go to blows, and that another guy was going to challenge her for the leadership position to challenge that choice, but now the two of them are buried and gone. Was this Miss Petra strong? "'' Vera Lekov sat on the metal chair as best she could, but due to her long legs, it was almost like she was crouching on a child's chair.

''She was really strong. We only lost because these assassins hit us in an ambush. "''

''That sucks. I would have loved to exchange blows with her if she was so eager to spit on our generosity, but hey Mr.Rolland, what about you all? What is the wish of the people here, now that the big heads are all dead? You pups get the final say. '' Roland lowered his head.

''We will not join you... we are going to follow our leader's orders till a new one is chosen. We will not betray the head of the wolf. ''Roland's companions suddenly became tense and some of them even pointed their weapons at him.

''Hahahaha'' The woman laughed, her voice resounding in the junkyard and echoing with a nauseating vibration. Nikolai looked back at them while standing in silence.

''Honestly, without the wolf demon you guys had, there is nothing for us in the syndicate to gain anymore from your help. We wanted someone on the outskirts to stop the snakes from becoming too much of a problem since they had the Nishiyama clan on their side, but that wasn't a problem either. They got their heads cut off too. "

''You may be speaking a bit more than is needed, your mother may get annoyed," Nikolai said, but she just shrugged at his words.

''Only if you snitch on me Nikolai, hah well, I'll give it to your wolves. few people in the city will refuse me. The "maw of the city'' like that, that Petra was something else could have made it big in the big city in another life. '' Vera laughed or at least tried, but she sounded more like meat being pulverized than a human laugh.

''I know, there is no way you will invite us to the city now, so I won't beg you. That would be shameful. Do what you need to do. "Roland stared straight at her one eye.

'Who even cares right? So the wolves want to be wild animals till the very, bitter, bitter end. I like you, outsiders. You lot have balls. "''

''We are willing to continue working as we have till now. If you need something done on the outskirts, we can help, but we will not become a lapdog for any of you city folks. " Her mouth opened, it seemed to stretch wider as if her entire face was a rose getting ready to open at its center.

''I like you. What do you think about this one Nikolai? ''

''There is nothing to be gained by killing them. Just because Nishiyama failed to become a force on the outskirts doesn't mean someone else won't try again. Either way, your mother left the final call to you. " Vera scratched behind her neck at his always answer.

''I only want to know one more thing to be sure. What about the demon Marchosias? Do you plan to summon it yourself? Not a bad idea. If you have the balls to look me in the eye and tell me to get lost, dealing with a demon should be easy, Mr.Roland. " He was beginning to gain confidence. It was strange, but he couldn't help but think Petra and this woman may have gotten along. If he cooperated, everything may not end here and now.

''The people in black killed it. We can't summon it any longer. " Vera tilted her head, puzzled.

''Who are these people in black? It seems they also killed Mr.Park with the snakes. In fact, it is likely someone just murdered all of the worms yesterday as well. Isn't it like being the same person? I am curious, really curious. "Vera moved forward, cutting the distance between her and Roland with her long frame.

''They called themselves, demon hunters." Nikolai sighed. She looked back at him as well, but he didn't reply.

''So they killed a demon? Now that is something new, something impossible, something no one should ever be able to do. What a fun bunch they are, very curious. " Ver stood up, throwing the chair and the entire metal table over Roland.

''Sorry, but that is not something anyone should know about. It will make a mess in the city. So I am gonna have to silence all of you mutts. "

Her mouth opened completely, her head unraveling to reveal a massive mouth as she screamed. The people aiming at her from above the junkpiles were suddenly hit by a nauseating and painfully screech. It was so loud that the people close to her had their eardrums bleed. Vera rushed to Roland and quickly grabbed him by his arm, lifting his whole body. He saw a gaping max of countless teeth lined and ready. He panicked and kicked her in her chest. It almost felt like kicking a tree. Her mouth came closer and closer to the arm he was hanging from.

He passed out.

''I can't eat that much, I'll just take an arm. You can simply bleed to death there. "'' Vera threw him to the side like a ragdoll. She chewed her arm with her mouth closed completely and stared at the skies with her single eye. The entire junkyard had fallen under shadows. Darkness was descending all around them. Black clouds were blocking the dim light of the sun.

''I was hoping we would evade calling any attention. Was this really needed? " Nikolai was raising his hand where a black sphere was floating on his open palm.

''They know too much, they aren't worth keeping. We are leaving no one alive. " She ran, her long limbs moving her like a frenetic beast toward another wolf that opened fire. She ran over him, carrying the man with a single arm grabbing his head with an open palm.

''I suppose this is just fun for you... fine, you can leave the cleaning up to me." Nikolai closed his hand and a murder of crows descended from the skies. The black clouds above opened, revealing that they were made by hundreds of crows. The birds descended upon the lookouts on the top of the junkyard, enshrouding them as they began to pick at them. They shot back at them, but the sheer number of crows was impossible to handle. It didn't take too long. In just a matter of minutes, the two of them reunited on the broken junkyard while the rain began to fall.

''The crows will take care of the corpses. It is best if we get on our way. We need to tell the family what just happened. " Nikolai looked at the crows descending upon his victims, finding the sigh unpleasant. Vera had returned, most of her suit painted with blood. She scratched her neck, her feelings impossible to read without a human face.

''I doubt this will get dad out of his lethargic state, but having someone around that can truly kill demons could really change everything in the city. It could get pretty ugly, though. So let's hope they are just mistaken about these hunters. "Vera shook her hands to clear the blood.

''Assuming they ever make it to the city, anyway. At least you won't need to eat for a while. "'Nikolai looked back at her. They weren't concerned with the rain that fell upon them. He was looking very tired, not from the harshness of what had just happened, but from the annoyance of simply wanting to go and rest.

''There is always a silver lining, I suppose. What about you Nikolai? Are you still sure about joining my family? Scenes like this won't get any prettier. "She walked towards him, shielding him from the rain with her stature.

''Of course, I have the intention of gaining the power and money your family has. It has always been my aim." He told her with a smile.

''You really only got married to me to suck stuff from the syndicate. Still as honest as always, what a shameless man you are. She put her hand over his head.

''I like you. If you had told me I was pretty or some bull, I would have ripped off your head already. Marrying you won't be that bad. "''Nikolai arranged his glasses. As he looked back at their car, all of the crows were ascending into the skies again like a living storm.

''Likewise, let's head back to the city. Breathing this air is quite tedious and I really need a shower. "He spoke with a mild annoyance and they both walked away in the rain while the only sound that could still be heard was the falling rain on the quiet and now vacant junkyard.