Me: Great, tomorrow sounds good?

Ryan: Sure. I’ll text you the place.

Me: Okay.

I put the mobile phone down and pull out my files on the demon who has been eluding me for months. What they’re doing is fucked up, even by demon standards. This is something that borders on complete cruelty. They possess a new human around every three to four weeks. The possessions seem standard, the mortal’s mind is shut down and in the background. Sometimes they have some idea what’s going on with their body, but usually they’re more so in a stasis.

Possessions can go a few ways: smoothly, when the demon moves on and the mortal has no recollection of what time has passed or horribly, usually when a demon abuses the mortal’s body so badly that once they exit the mortal’s form, the human immediately dies. Or what this demon is doing, which is complete destruction. They’re jumbling the possessed mind so much that when the demon moves on, the vessel is in a constant state of fear and madness.

Of the seven possessions, one of them murdered their whole family, another killed themselves, two of them are in an asylum for the criminally insane and the other three have been missing since possession. More than likely they’re deceased.

We have a few suspects, known demons wandering the realm, but other than that, no real leads. The biggest question being: why do they keep moving forms? If they find a mortal vessel they can thrive in, why keep possessing repeatedly?

There’s a cracking noise and I know it immediately to be Asmodeus’ portal. He doesn’t even knock on the door, he just walks in.

“Please tell me you aren’t hovering over that file again. It’s time to have fun. We spent too long in Hell. Let’s go have some mortal delicacies.”

I groan, but agree. I could use a break. It has been a while since I’ve enjoyed the pleasures this dimension has to offer.

“I know the perfect place, and we might even be able to get some intel,” he says, and I arch an eyebrow at him. It’s been years since I’ve been back in this town, but not much has changed.

The establishment is called Hex, and I automatically know a witch owns the bar. Which is surprising.

Most of the witches I have come across are fucking weird. They like to stay in their groups in the forest worshiping their goddesses. For the most part, I don’t pay them any attention. They stick to themselves and stay far away from demons.

Half of the place is set up like a tavern or bar. With magical memorabilia lining the walls. The bar top is sleek and black. It reminds me of Satan’s meeting table. The back of the bar is designed to look like an alchemy lab with different liquors disguised as potions. The rest of the restaurant is set up with wooden tables and chairs. The ambience meant to make you feel like you’re in a witch’s home.