Kain headed straight for the counter, where a slender man with bad skin was too busy fiddling with a magazine to look up at them.

“Fred.”

The man gave an odd sort of jolt at Kain’s near-growled greeting, his head bobbing up with a snap.

“Oh god, you!” He flinched and backed up as if searching for an exit, but only managed to hit the back wall, knocking off a couple of bags of candy in the process.

“Indeed.” Kain stopped in front of the counter, placing both of his massive hands on it so he could lean in. “I'm pleased you remember me. That should save us the trouble of you pretending like you can't answer my questions, shouldn't it?”

The man, now sickly pale behind his adult acne, nodded. “W-What do you want?”

“Precise directions to the place I asked you about last time.”

Fred swallowed. “Man, you know I can't.” Kain growled again, making the slender man shake harder. “It's a spell! I can't!”

Kain scoffed. “Oh, really? I suppose we'll just have to see if a little of my magic will help, then.”

“No! Please, no!” Fred huddled in on himself as darkness suddenly filled the room, solidifying in tendrils that snaked toward the quivering man.

The Demon Lord hadn’t gone this far the last time he visited—but the stakes hadn’t been as high as they were now. Using his magic in another’s territory? That was bound to draw attention from the residing Lord Protector. But if he was quick enough, he and Selma would be gone by the time anyone came to investigate.

“Kain!” Out of nowhere, a small hand slapped hard against his back, breaking his single-minded focus. “Stop that! Right now!”

Kain blinked, his dark magic receding as he snapped his head around to stare down at Selma. “What?”

“What do you mean, 'what'?” she stuttered, some of the unease she’d displayed their first morning together flickering in her gaze despite the stubborn jut of her chin. “Stop attacking the poor guy! You can't just… bully someone like that!”

He cocked an eyebrow at her. “I gave him ample opportunity to speak of his own accord. He chose not to.”

Selma blinked. “He said it was a spell. I'm not entirely sure how magic works for y’all, but that doesn't sound like he could just choose to tell you. How about you ask the man?”

“What, ask him nicely and see if he'll comply? Look, I know you're a Breeder and therefore predisposed to being overly kind, but that's just not how the world works, sweetheart.”

The fear on Selma’s pretty face was swiftly replaced by anger at his patronizing tone, but before she could lay into him, the clerk interrupted.

“If the girl is a Breeder, I can tell her,” he croaked, slowly straightening behind the counter.

Kain flicked his black gaze back to Fred, pinning him in place. “Explain.”