"Let’s go somewhere quiet and talk," Zed said to her.
"Ok, good idea." Zinnia said while telling everyone else, "Shut up and go back to doing what you were doing."
They walked inside the magical wall with one of their orbs and it closed quickly after, just like she said they would. She took them to her office and told them to give her a minute. She entered, used some spells and the office hid all of her comforts, bed, mirror, vanity and refrigerator. She kept flesh and blood in there but she wanted it to appear to be a small, boring office when she brought them in.
"Ok, I’m ready for you. Bring your selection."
Dak followed Zed and his prisoner into the office.
’Kind of small for a boss office...weird,’ Zed thought, unaware of the enchantments in place. Demonic arts worked effectively when used properly.
"So why him? Talk to me Zed." Zinnia said, clearly annoyed he brought the leader of the slums as his selection.
"Talk, asshole." Zed said while kicking the dark purple masked man’s legs so he’d sit in the only chair.
"Why should I? You all report to me, not the other way around." He said angrily. "Zinnia what the fuck is this?"
"If I may?" Zed asked politely.
"By all means, it’s your selection for my challenge. Why is he a worthy sacrifice?"
Zed walked in front of the man and used his charm again.
"Tell her your plans."
"I am going to sneak in here tonight while you are asleep, disable your protections and kill you in your sleep so you couldn’t have one of your new trials bring someone to the Necrams. I needed to protect Tyler." He said robotically.
Zinnia didn’t move nor did she react.
’This mother fucker!’ She thought while keeping her poker face.
"Release him from his charm and leave this room." She said. "Get 69 out of here too." She said sternly.
’Damnit, I wanted to stay for this.’ Zed thought while releasing his charm.
They nodded and left the room.
"Fuck, I wanted to hear what was going to happen," Zed whispered.
"Stay calm. If it works, we’re good. If not, we bail. Easy." Dak said quietly.
*****
"What the fuck is your problem?" Zinnia asked the man directly. "I get a promotion and it’s execution time?"
"Yes. That’s exactly what it is. I know your little ruse about your extra space and those contacts you wear. I’m not fucking stupid Zinnia. Hiding your power like that." He spat back.
Zinnia quickly jabbed his throat. She used a demonic art to put him to sleep.
’Guess I have my winners.’ She thought with a smirk.
She walked out of her office.
"Well, no one is going to bring me a higher prize so congratulations 67 and 69. He will be brought to the drain site tonight. You two, take this $100 and go eat on me. Go get something from the outskirts near the city but keep your masks on. If you get in any trouble, don’t retaliate and return. That’s an order. You will be rewarded tonight." Zinnia said softly while returning to her office.
She picked up her cell phone and called the contact labeled Agent Z.
"Yes Zinnia?"
"I have a prisoner. It’s the leader of the slums though. He was going to kill me tonight in my sleep. What the fuck do we do about this?" She asked.
"Who won the reward?" He asked calmly.
"67 and 69. The two new vampire recruits that got me promoted." Zinnia said calmly.
"Excellent. I’ll be there for an early pick-up. You’ll take over the slums. This includes Mojo. That’s directly from 0. She anticipated this outcome."
"Thank you. When will you arrive?"
"I’m out front. Let me in."
’He teleported and she anticipated this? Foresight or something else?’ She thought, confused.
"Understood. Let yourself in and come to my office."
He hung up the phone and walked into the room, easily using the ability needed to open the wall. He spotted Zed and Dak and waved at them to follow him.
’Woah, who is that man dressed in a black suit with a silver mask? That doesn’t fit the theme at all...’ Zed thought. ’How did he arrive so quickly, I thought the reward came tonight?’
Dak and Zed followed him as they entered her office.
"For you, Zinnia," He said calmly while handing her a dark purple mask.
"Ok, what about those two?"
He reached into his suit and pulled out a purple mask and a black mask. He handed the purple one to Zed and the black one to Dak.
"Your new underlings for this operation. They will need to build up this operation and you will run these slums. If Mojo gives you problems, eliminate him and replace him with 69. Now, please give me the prisoner." He said calmly.
Zed watched in amazement as his blood restraints were easily deconstructed quickly by this Agent.
’This isn’t an ordinary ability user. SS or above, no question.’
’Zed, you might have gone too far. We’re in this deep in basically two days. Reckless little bastard,’ Dak thought, wanting to laugh, but able to control it.
"Thank you sir," Zed said politely.
"Yes, this is a big honor. I appreciate you," Dak said with a polite bow.
"Well, no need to hide your identities from one another now that you all work together. Zinnia, reveal your face. That’s an order."
’No way...’ Zed thought excitedly.
"That seems inappropriate. Why would my subordinates know what I look like?" She countered.
The man in the silver mask used a strange ability that appeared with a silver beam, connecting his finger to Zinnia’s neck. She grimaced in pain through her mask until it eventually popped off her face.
’Is he giving me power? How is this possible? Necram abilities? How!’ Zinnia thought as her mask fell on the floor and her contacts deteriorated.
"Woah, you’re a demon..." Zed said calmly. "A beautiful one at that."
’She truly is gorgeous. If only she wasn’t so evil, I might ask her out,’ Zed thought.
’Fucking moron is going to hit on the enemy,’ Dak thought angrily. ’I know him too well, this isn’t good.’
Zinnia controlled her emotions well. "Thank you for the compliment. You will never speak of this again and no one other than 0 and anyone in this room knows I’m a demon so keep it that way."
"Who is 0?" Dak asked formally.
"The leader of this entire operation. Speak that number and it’ll be the death of you." Agent Z said calmly, like he’d kill everyone in the room without a second thought.
"Wasn’t planning on it sir," Zed said matter-of-factly.
’A demon who wants to kill Tyler. That’s interesting, his wife is a powerful demon. I guess all races will have a grudge against him. My concern is for the prince and princess. We must protect them at all costs. I need to learn more about Zinnia and her motives. If she plans on handing Tyler to the Necrams, that’s one thing, but if she’s planning on helping them beyond that, she needs to be executed,’ Zed thought.
"Good, well I must take the prisoner now. Nice work you two. Zinnia, we will be in touch soon. Please start making the transition to leader of the slums now. 67 will run this and 69 will be his underling. You will be moved to a different location. Here is the location of your new hideout," Agent Z said while handing Zinnia a strange looking tablet.
"Thank you again, we will not fail you!" Zinnia said excitedly as Agent Z disappeared.
’Of course he can teleport. Well, this makes things complicated. I guess I need to let these two know their new roles in more detail.’ Zinnia thought.
"67, this will be your office but I need to clear my things. You and 69 due reconnaissance or something. You are figures of authority now. It took me months to get my level 2 mask and both of you received them in two days. If anyone messes with you, don’t mess with them back. Bring them to me. Also, start recruiting and we can move to the top together," she said cheerfully.