Demonic Keeper

Chapter Five

It wasn't easy letting her leave his club without following her but Dante hadn't lied when he said he needed to attend to business.

Certain business that, if a human was present, would make the situation more heated than they already were.

Besides, what point had she made by showing up uninvited to a bar full of demonic creatures aching to rip into her flesh? Could she not feel the danger emitting from them?

Dante shook his head at her actions, earning a curious glance from the fire bender sitting just to the right of him.

Not feeling the need to explain himself, he stared down at his hand and smiled.

He knew the demons around him assumed his previously strained expression meant held a horrible hand but now his amusement confused them.

"Well?" The bender questioned with a near snarl. "Are you in or out?"

Dante knew he had easily won this game with the straight flush he held but he questioned if he really wanted to set the cards on the portable table they'd set up in his office.

The Bender to his right was known for his short temper and Dante would rather not end the evening with murder and a burnt establishment.

The Stoner to his left wasn't any better. With his hard exterior, he'd prove to be a worthy opponent in battle but too would die if Dante found the proper crack in his natural armor.

Finally, there was the Caster, small in stature but definitely not to be underestimated in his easy ability to scramble Dante's thoughts. Or rather, would be possible if he wasn't the owner of a talisman that shielded his thoughts so he could think of his next move in peace.

Each demon at the table held a weakness that Dante knew he could handle, making him confident in the fact he had most definitely won the game.

He pushed the wad of cash he'd taken as payment for babysitting the human towards the middle of the table. With a smirk, he informed the boys that he was in.

One by one they laid their cards face up in front of them. First the Bender with a full house then the stoner with three of a kind.

The Caster stared at Dante with a calm yet perplexed glare and Dante held his smirk.

"Keep trying, prick." He snarled. "My mind is a vault."

He huffed angrily then displayed his cards.

Dante couldn't help the way his brows furrowed with confusion then an easy smirk played at his lips.

"Well, boys. This is...a strange set of circumstances." He placed his cards down displaying the same winning hand the previous player held.

"Swindler!" The Bender shouted standing abruptly just as they all did. He slammed his fist against the table setting the cards ablaze just as Dante pulled out his two pistols: Thelma and Louise.

"If anyone should feel cheated it's me." He replied calmly pointing his weapons at both the Caster and Bender. "The cards belonged to you."

He thrust Louise towards the Bender and he raised his hands though not in a surrendering gesture. He was ready to attack at any moment.

Only his attack wouldn't work on Dante, and he was sure the demon knew this.

"Can we all just settle this as men," the Stoner coaxed. "This is just a-"

"No," Dante chuckled low after firing a shot upward. "I don't do misunderstandings. This hand, is mine."

"Half-breed scum." The Bender spat.