Conversation With a Demon

Chapter Three: Canceling Plans

 The next morning I headed trait to training. I greeted Paul, Ryan and Nikki, David's kids. I walked to training and started immediately. Got a bow and arrow shot all three moving targets, did training course 29, 85, and 36, and fought with the automatic fighting robot. Once I was ready, I waltzed over to David to get my assignment.

"Today you will be eliminating political opponent Vandel Bard," David informed me, handing over the laminate.

"You have to make it look like an accident at best"

I nodded "Okay."

"Don't get caught."

"Pfft... I never get caught." I turned away, heading for the door.

"And Scarlet? Be home by lunch."

I cracked a small smile. "Like I'd ever be late," I replied, without glancing back.

I headed outside. Jogging towards Vandal's condo, I passed the coffee shop where I met Tiffany and Megan, and remembered I was supposed to help them with their project. I called Tiffany to cancel, and surprisingly, she didn't object. I just went with it.

Personally, I thought she was happy that I wasn't going.

By the time I made it to Bard's condo, I was on high alert. I crouched behind an ornamental bush and surveyed the area. It was very heavily guarded. I crouched forward, hid behind a trashcan, and shapeshifted into a butterfly. I flew into the gates of his property and landed on one of the guards' shoulders.

"Clyde! Don't move! There's a butterfly on your shoulder!" one guard told Clyde, the man whose shoulder I was  perching on.

"Well, Karl, don't yell like that! You might scare the poor creature!" Clyde replied, immediately stiffening. I almost giggled, but knew it would blow my cover. "What color is it?"

"It's black and red and blue." Karl's voice was filled with glee.

"Take a picture! Take a picture!" Clyde said, trying hard not to move.

"Okay." Karl reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. "What if the flash scares it away?"

"At least we'll have a picture. Take it!"

"Okay..." Karl took a picture of me, and showed it to Clyde.

"Awesome!" he said in awe. I examined my butterfly form. Black wings, red and blue spots. Huh.

"We should take it in to show the boss!" Karl suggested.

"Yeah!"

"Don't be ridiculous, guys. The boss don't want to be bothered with that kind of stuff. You two are soft." Another guard, Sam, said.

"Says the guy whose name is Sam," Karl retorted lamely.

"Short for Samuel, dumb dumbs." Samuel said, annoyed

"We should show it to the guys in the breakroom, at least," Clyde reasoned.

"Do what you will with your time." Samuel waved them away.

They grinned at each other. Karl ran inside, and Clyde slowly, as not to startle me, walked after him.

Internally, I grinned. I was in.