[h2][b]HELL, CIRCLE OF GREED[/b][/h2]

"It has begun." A voice called out behind Broker, he didn't turn to look. The creature was a grey faced, red eyed demon. One of his many subordinates. It was dressed much the same way The Broker was, full on dapper. IT was the dress code among the demons subordinates. The lesser demons name was Xajaghluipeth. But Broker proffered to call it Xaja. It wasn't female or male, many demons had no set gender or sex for that matter. What need did a creature of Greed have for such things.  Its eyes flickered from Broker to the Blueberry who was just finishing one of her snacks. She cleaned the bone with something akin to reverence then snapped it and sucked the marrow out. Then she devoured the bone to. 

[color=ed1c24]"It has indeed Xaja. I see pawns moving all across he board already."[/color] He mused. "[color=ed1c24]The King of Elves champion is apparently hunting for me already My agents withing the so called Agency are reporting increased activity as well. Magis from all over are gathering and huddling together, chasing the false leads we put in place."[/color] He rose from his seat at the large desk and clapped produced a pencil. He signed a paper that Xaja put before him. He took a moment looking out a large circular window. Before him a endless row of damned souls toiled away in a hellscape made out of cubicles. Greed did modernize much faster then his counterparts after all. [color=ed1c24]"Odette knows her part, I can leave Britain to her. So It is time I go to Texas."[/color] The greed incarnate moved from his position overseeing his little corner of hell to beckon Blueberry to follow him. She shrugged and followed suit, hand clasped behind her back and part of the bone sticking out of her mouth 

"Where are we going Daddy?"

[color=ed1c24]"To Americas Oil lands. Where greed is a crop that suffocates all other."[/color]  He mused. The portal ripped open with its usual screams of dying realities and melodramatic violin music that he was so fond of. 


[h2]AUSTIN, TEXAS.[/h2]

They stepped out on the empty car lot of a Lone Star Petrol. The second biggest provider of Texan oil. One of many companies under Brokers control.

[color=ed1c24]"LSP..."[/color] He said as he sucked in the smell of petrol. "A place where ambition is converted into purest greed."  He mused as he waltzed towards the entrance. Two guards stood guarding the entrance. They looked up, eyes growing wide at the sight of the three Demons in their human disguises. Blueberry looked like a 20 something woman with blue dyed hair. She wore a very secretary-esque outfit complete with blue rimmed glasses. Xaja looked like a handsome young man at he moment, with a touch of premature gray in his hair. And Broker looked like a distinguished southern gentleman of old money. It was all glamour of course, but when in Rome and all that.

"Sir. Can we help you?"

[color=ed1c24]"Yes actually. You can call up and say that Mr Benton is here to speak with Barnes. He will want to see me immediately..."[/color] His drawl was perfect, you'd think he lived in Texas his entire life. The guards stared at one another. 

"Uh huh. Look, I get that you are some hotshot. But this hardly office ho-" There was a crack like thunder and the mans head snapped around 180 degrees from a backhand slap from Broker. The other guard stared in horror as his friend slumped down.

[color=ed1c24]"Call. Up. To. Barnes."[/color] Broker said, smiling with all the warmth of a glacier.

---

Barnes was sweating profusely as the demon posse entered his office. He was not the mustachioed portly cowboy a CEO of such a named company tended to be in movies or books. He was a sleek, Harvard graduated, handsome man in his early Forties. He was also a person who sold his soul to what might as well have been the devil.


[color=ed1c24]"Barnes Benton~~"[/color] Broker said with a toothy grin spreading across his face. The demon grabbed the nervous man by the hand switched to his demon form immediately.  The horns, the eyes, the flickering tail. The whole nine yards and a stoled three added to that. 

[color=ed1c24]"Do you know why I come to you, worm?"[/color]  He didn't usually work the whole Faustian shtick, but Texas was full of biblethumpers so he found it still held proper power among their flock. He grinned so wide Barnes thought the demons head was about to split. 

"I...I still got time dammit!" Barned protested. At that Broker relaxed and went back to looking like a human. 

[color=ed1c24]"Yes. You do. I am not here for your soul, I am here for the piece of metal your men found at a dig."[/color]

"Oh. That." The CEO relaxed, getting up and moving to a painting. Behind it was a safe, that he quickly keyed in a password for and unlocked. Opening it, he took out a strangely inscribed piece of silver gold and some other metal unknown to man.

"I kept it hidden. As you said..." Broker took it gingerly. He could feel the magic circuitry inside it. The strange microscopic runework.

[color=ed1c24]"Good. We'll be going now."[/color] Broker said as he turned to leave. [color=ed1c24]"Oh. And if someone come asking for information. Kill them."[/color] He said before he and his left out the door to the office. Barnes slumped back into his chair, breathing heavily.