A Royal Pain

Though Keera had entered the Spinetap Publishing without hesitation, she didn't once drop her guard. Another fight could happen at anytime, from anywhere, and she had to be on guard. The suped-up thugs that they had just laid out seemed to be an early warning of things to come. Keera knew all to well the power that could be gained from demons and she dreaded the idea of what horrors awaited them inside the building. The blood drinkers had been a slight obstacle, but their overall strength was minor.

Demon blood wasn't particularly potent in a human body. Any supernatural worth their salt could easily defeat an average human hopped up on the stuff. The only advantage that the substance provided was a cheap alternative to combat training. Spinetap Publishings could afford to skimp on security, what with the demons that company president Reginald Cathburn kept as his bodyguards. The reputation of the demons in question was enough to keep away most intruders, but there were worse rumors concerning what went on within the brick bowels of the company building.

Keera turned her gaze to Tibias, who was right next to her. The half-blind man was showing absolutely no hint of caution or worry, something that gave Keera the impression that Tibias may actually be having fun with this break-in.

How long has Tibias been this much of hellion? The angel thought. For a few moments her mind drifted between the way Tibias acted at the office and the way he was acting now. It immediately occurred to her that Tibias' personality hadn't really changed at all. His street smart side had always been there, but it was suppressed by his unapologetic foppishness. Upon this realization, a smile began to curl on Keera's face. A smile that instantly caught the eye of Royal, who had been lagging a few steps behind the other two.

"Something on your mind, Keera?" Royal mused. The angel looked back over her shoulder. Before she could answer, Royal went ahead and said something to annoy her in a tone of voice that sounded completely sincere. "I bet you're thinking about what you and Kole are going to do later."

Keera narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips. Royal's awkward smile persisted as he tilted his head to the right, wondering whether his comment hat gotten the intended reaction. Keera's arms were already crossed as she turned away from her elfish fellow subordinate.

"Not even funny, Royal." She said flatly. "Even you have better material than that."

"Funny?" Royal gasped, acting surprised. "How was I to know you weren't sleeping with him?"

"The fact that I despise him should be a hint." Keera replied, doing her best not to sound annoyed as she knew that Royal would thrive off of it.

"Such an angel answer. I love it." Tibias snarked. Keera was about to respond to that sudden comment when Royal interjected.

"Ah. You get where I'm coming from, don't you Tibs." Royal's grin was widening.

Tibias glanced at Royal and presented a smile of his own. "You can stop with your mouth boner immediately, Mr. Holligan. I'm not going to help you in your feeble attempts to annoy Ms. Trean. Please remember that you are doubly outranked and that your nose is most assuredly breakable."

Royal stopped in his tracks. He didn't frown exactly, but his usual smile seemed diminished somehow "Ouch." He said.

"See, Royal." Keera told him. "Nobody is amused. As usual."

She and Tibias continued walking, leaving Royal to fall further behind them. Royal only stood where he was for a second longer before running to catch up with his superiors. He strode up in the middle, walking closer to Keera than Tibias. He was only quiet for total of four seconds before they heard his voice again.

"So... anyone else freaked out about the way Tibby decked that guy outside?" The annoying freckled man clucked.

"Good grief." Keera mumbled. Royal rambled on until Tibias and Keera shut him up by threatening to tell Kole that he had misbehaved, at which point he became white as a sheet and quite less vocal.