Merritt Lark would not die.

He pulled out his wand and cast a shield of shimmering black embers around himself and Bandit. Panic held him a death grip.  The bloodhound growled at the sight of his shield, baring its sharp teeth as a warning of what was to come. Bandit hissed at the creature, raising up on her two hind legs while gripping onto Merritt’s leg with her paws. 

Bloodhounds devoured anything with a pulse.  Merritt remembered his mother’s lessons from so long ago, to never turn his back if confronted by one.  Never run from it.  If he tried to flee, it would only hunt him down and rip him limb from limb.  

Such a gruesome thought made his stomach churn. He wouldn’t die. Inhaling a shaky breath, he let his anxieties flow free from his body as he channeled more magic into his wand.  He had never fought a bloodhound before, but he had faith in his abilities to fight it off. It was only one. He could do this.  

Whoever sent that demon after Bloodworth must be fanging determined to get to him.  Enough so to create a goddess forsaken domain, imprisoning him like a rat in a cage.

Before Merritt had the chance to cast a defensive spell, stars danced in his vision.  He blinked to clear the haze, until the hallway around him dissolved into nothing but blackness. What in the hells was happening? He reached out, fingers gripping nothing but the air around him. 

 One moment, Merritt was staring at a vicious bloodhound ready to make a chew toy out of him, and then the next, he found himself quite literally in Gwyneria Grimheart’s arms.  

“Thank the Goddesses above, it worked, Bloodworth!” The relief in Gwyneira’s voice reassured Merritt he was safe and back in their world as he staggered on his feet.

The courtroom itself still remained vacant, aside from the three of them standing at the threshold.  Merritt parted his lips to speak, but the words died on the tip of his tongue.  His dry mouth felt like it had been stuffed with foul sulfur-flavored cotton. But he had to tell them all about the bloodhound and how they needed an expert to remove the portal connecting to the demon’s domain before someone else got sucked in.

“Merritt?” Bloodworth’s hardened gaze sent a flurry of anxiety through him when he met those devilish red eyes of his.  He tried not to compare them to those of the bloodhound’s, but it was damned difficult not to with how enraged he looked.

“Yes, sir?” Merritt managed to choke out.  

“Don’t you dare take this out on him, Bloodworth.” Gwyneira stepped in front of him before his boss could even move an inch.  “That devil was out for your blood and we were unfortunate enough to fall into its trap.  You’re lucky Camilla is here tonight to fix this because we could have died.” 

Gwyneira pointed her wand at him like she’d hex him, and for a moment, Merritt truly thought she would until a young woman with long raven-hued hair rushed up the hallway with a few other vampire officials behind her. That had to be Camilla.

“Your concerns are admirable, Ms. Grimheart, but I assure you I am capable of handling my interns.” Bloodworth readjusted his tie, his sharp glare focused solely upon Gwyneira like he wasn’t even standing there.  

Merritt might as well have been a ghost on the wall.

As if sensing his discomfort, Bandit whimpered at his feet and pawed at his legs to be lifted up.  Merritt reached over and cradled her to his chest, ignoring how his heart stung to see Bloodworth act so normal.  Like nothing had even happened.  Like he hadn’t almost died at the sharp fangs of that bloodhound.

“We should head to my office while they finish here. I made sure Camilla inspected my door as well.” Bloodworth checked his watch, lips pursed in a tight frown like he couldn’t be bothered to stand there another moment. 

Merritt fell into step beside his boss, who slowed his steps to match his.  He thought back to what Gwyneria had said, how he was merely another replaceable intern to Bloodworth.  Perhaps she was right.  

It was clear as the night that he wasn’t bothered by what had happened.  Merritt figured it was merely an inconvenience to him. A waste of a flight down to the courthouse. Merritt clenched his hands into fists at his sides, wondering if he was about to learn why his previous interns and assistants had quit. 

When they neared Bloodworth’s office, Merritt murmured, “I knew you’d find us.”

Bloodworth stilled for a moment, and Merritt sighed when he realized the vampire was merely straightening his tie again. He really wasn’t bothered at all, was he?

“After you.” Bloodworth pulled the door open for him, and Merritt walked ahead to place Bandit down on a chair.

“There was a bloodhound in that hellhole.” Merritt shivered to imagine its razor sharp teeth, ready to rip into his flesh, and he folded his arms around himself. “I thought it was going to kill me when I saw it.” Those bloodthirsty bright crimson eyes still haunted him.  Both from the past and from the beast that had wanted to devour him to death only moments ago.

“Merritt, look at me.” The way his boss rasped his name sent goosebumps along his arms as he slowly turned to face him, the door sealing up behind them.

Merritt stiffened when his boss stepped further inside, taking both hands in his. Confronting Bloodworth’s forlorn face, vibrant eyes darkening to a stormy crimson shade that stirred the little hairs on the back of his neck. 

“I saw your ghost, Merritt. I thought you were dead.”

“Ah, well I’m not dead yet, sir.” Merritt managed a nervous chuckle as warmth crept into his face at the intensity of his gaze. “It takes a lot more than demons and bloodhounds to get rid of me.”

“When I couldn’t find you, I just thought you’d wandered off to find me or use the restroom. I looked all over that fanging courthouse. Nobody had seen you leave the room.” Bloodworth’s jaw tightened. “The bloodguards kept telling me you had to have sneaked out. It wouldn’t be the first time an intern did that to me. But I knew better. You wouldn’t do that.”

“No, sir. I wouldn’t.” Merritt didn’t even stammer.

“Did you see the demon again?” Bloodworth asked.

“No, only the bloodhound, sir. Strange, isn’t it? How someone has tried to deliver you to a demon twice already.”

“This time I wasn’t the one attacked,” Bloodworth pointed out. 

“Because of the charm I gave you.” Merritt pointed to his suit pocket, where he’d stuffed it. “I suspect that’s why we were perfectly fine when we crossed through together. Only when we separated…”

“Then you should have it back. To protect yourself.” Bloodworth reached into his pocket for the charm, prepared to return it right there.

“I have one for myself as well, sir. It’s just back at your office,” Merritt explained. 

“Keep it on you at all times.” Bloodworth squeezed his hands tighter.

Merritt’s heart skipped a beat at the way his expression softened with concern. “I will.” 

“Good. Because I do not wish to have you haunt me for all of eternity in my office.” Bloodworth released his hands with a huff, and Merritt noticed just the tiniest of smiles creeping in at the corners of his lips. 

“Until then, I’ll just stick close to your side tonight, sir. Don’t want to accidentally step into another demon portal or worse.”

“Yes, that sounds like an excellent plan to me.”  Bloodworth agreed.  “Though I’m doubtful court will proceed tonight after that incident.”

“Probably not.” Merritt wandered over to his boss’s desk, strumming his fingers along the wood like he was expecting to find remnants of his blood from the magic he used.  His fingers lightly brushed over the crystal ball.  “Damned thing here really came in handy.  So glad you got a replacement one.  Gwyneira doubted you the entire time we were trapped, but I kept telling her I could get through to you.  Somehow.”

“How did Ms. Grimheart end up trapped with you?” Bloodworth frowned.

“I’m not sure, honestly.  My guess would be that she walked through the courtroom door, and with the portal likely fixed to bring two people over, it sucked her in since it couldn’t get you.” Merritt shrugged.  “Demonic magic is finicky.  Doesn’t always work like the spellcaster intends it to.”

“You’re saying someone here created that demon portal?”

“Of course.  Demons can’t open a portal into our world unless someone frees them to do whatever they please, but that wasn’t the case here.  Such magic would be too potent to conceal like our mysterious demon assistant did.” Merritt rubbed his chin.  “Honestly, it’s likely a government employee responsible to have such access.  That would explain the schedule mixup as well.”

“Do you think Sylvester was responsible?” Bloodworth asked, receiving a head shake from Merritt.

“Sylvester was just a pawn.  Very likely the employee who set this trap is too.”

“I see.” Bloodworth moved behind his desk, but he didn’t sit.  He remained standing, much like Merritt.

“Do you think it’s possible you could compile a list of employees who work here?”  Merritt asked.  “It would take time sorting through all their backgrounds, but I could manage it.”

“Of course.  I’ll get that before we leave tonight.  Shouldn’t be a problem.”

Merritt raised a brow.  “Seriously?  You think they’ll just hand it over to you?  Just like that?”

“I have my methods, Merritt.  Don’t you worry.”  Bloodworth smirked, flashing those sharp fangs of his.  

Perhaps that villainous demeanor frightened his foes, even encouraged all the vicious rumors that circulated about his boss.  He wore his darkness like a lovely designer cloak, in a way that made Merritt shiver, but not with fear.  Goddesses, it made his toes curl for him to look at him like that.  

“Well, what are we dallying around here for then, sir?” Merritt cleared his voice, hoping the gentle wind spell he swept over himself wasn’t too noticeable.  “We have work to do.”