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behind the counter where a buffet had been set out. “I do not have bags but I have this.” He wheeled out a large garbage can.
    I smiled at him. “That will do. I hear sirens. Can you keep them away for a few moments?” I threw the three demons in the can with my left hand. The right was almost useless now. The demon poison had begun to shrivel the skin. It burned like hell, but I didn’t have time to worry about war wounds. I had to get the creatures out of there before the police showed up.
    “What do I say?” He turned back to stare at me.
    “The truth, Father, that thieves stole the treasure. If I find it, I promise to return it.”
    “May I ask you something?”
    “Sure.”
    “Are you Gillian Caruthers?” That was the tough part about having to deal with humans on the job. On occasion we had to send in a mage to clear memories or change things a bit. I didn’t think we’d have to do that here.
    I gave him my best fake chuckle. “People say I look like her all the time. I’m flattered. I think she’s kind of pretty.” You are so going to hell, Gilly girl.
    The look in his eye told me he knew I’d lied. He made the sign of the cross in front of him. “Whoever you are, God be with you.” He couldn’t be much older than me, but there was wisdom in those eyes. I knew he’d handle the situation.
    As he turned to follow my orders I pulled one of the watches from my pocket. I pushed the button and grabbed hold of the trash can.
    Arath had some explaining to do.

CHAPTER 7
    “What the hell are these things? And if you say ‘demons,’ I’ll kill you.”
    Arath met me at the door. “Threatening a demon king is never wise, Guardian. You are injured.” He pointed to my right hand.
    “Yeah. I’m not really interested in the obvious right now. Are you going to tell me what these things are? I’ve seen a lot of demons, studied even more, but I’ve never seen anything that looked like this.” I lifted the lid of the can. The stench, a cross between rotten eggs and something Mo the bulldog threw up on my rug a few weeks ago, made the bile rise in my stomach.
    “Shoreh. They are pets of the Nira clan. Where did you find them?” He lifted one out of the can and examined it.
    “They were in one of our holiest places, guarding the door while someone else stole priceless antiquities. I didn’t actually see your people do the deed, but since these are demon pets, and our security team saw the jumpers, they must’ve had something to do with it.”
    “I will order Comdar, the head of the clan here. He is no thief, so I am certain he will have an explanation.” He threw the dead batlike creature back in the can. “Rockschlt!” He roared the word and demons suddenly appeared from the doorways, At least thirty of them filled the hall. “Bring Comdar to me!” The demon horde bowed and fled through the front hallway.
    “Before you leave, let me heal your injuries.” He pointed to the hand that still held the ax. I wasn’t sure I could let go of the weapon since the blood had dried and it now felt permanently attached.
    “I don’t have any plans to leave.” I stood just to the right of the front door. “I want the antiquities back. They are very important to a certain religion, and I promised to bring them back.” I wasn’t Catholic, but had a feeling lying to a priest meant bad karma any way you looked at it.
    “Demon hunter, you are in no shape to argue with me. I will heal your hand, and you will return home to rest. It may be several days before Comdar arrives. His clan lives underground in the Blashen Forest.”
    “Well, since you’re the almighty demon king, then you should be able to know exactly where they are and teleport them here. Or they can teleport themselves. They certainly had no problem making it out of that vault before I could get to them.”
    He grunted. “I am flattered that you think me so powerful I could pick someone off of the planet and bring them to me, but you are