[b][color=ed1c24]DEMON 688[/color][/b]

It was the flickering light that caught Sikksayt's attention first. Whether too stubborn to turn now that it had settled on a direction or simply distracted by hissing steam, the demon was not aware of the puppet body until after it sailed towards Elizabeth, hearts thudding.

Fire! Fire is good; Fire meant home. Surely the wizardess capable of conjuring such a bright flame was a senior devil, well acquainted with the Hellish arts! She could show him the way.

[color=ed1c24]"Six-eight,"[/color] wheezed Sikksayt in answer as it sailed out of the fog and waved its head respectfully at the blue-robed demon, neck uncoiling and twisting around like a worm. The two words slurred together in its accent, as always. [colour=ed1c24]"Please escort me to the rooftop observatory immediately. I have very important business."[/colour] 

Not too far away, the footsteps grew closer.

[colour=ed1c24]"...Also, I believe I'm being followed. Your protection would be much appreciated, sir."[/colour]

Without pausing, Sikksayt moved to the wall and gestured for Elizabeth to take the lead towards the approaching engineer, turning back the way it had come. Changing directions didn't bother Sikksayt much. [color=ed1c24][i]Given my luck, I was most certainly going the wrong way anyway.[/i][/color]

The puppet human shambled from the fog, the fear in his face flattened by a lifelessly calm curiousity.