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role of food were over. It worked. We were able to recover lands that were rightfully ours and put an end to being enslaved to things that have no place on this earth.” He paused for a moment, genuine disappointment in his tone when he spoke again. “Unfortunately, as with any war, there were casualties.”
    “That’s all fine and good but you haven’t answered my question.”
    “Right, yes. After the Inquisition, the Church was understandably stained. Yet, those enemies still remained. Thus the Ordo Cinderis was created. The Order of the Ashes, risen from the remnants of the Inquisition and operating without ties to any larger body that would be required to answer for its actions, a multi-faith brotherhood united under the banner of turning evil against itself, in service to God. To turn sinners, without hope of salvation, against their own.”
    “Uh huh. So, once more, why the fuck am I here?”
    “You’re a sinner,” Yavetta said.
    “I’m sorry?”
    “Because, Mister Jack, you’ve been recruited,” Al Dossari said.
    “Well, you guys can all go right ahead and fuck yourselves. How’s that?” I said. “Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
    I stood up. Maggie didn’t move. She stared at me, a look of mild amusement painted on her features.
    “I’m afraid that’s not an option now. As I was saying, you’ve been recruited.”
    “And I’m telling you that I refuse.”
    “You are more than welcome to refuse. Though, I want you to bear something in mind Jack.”
    “What’s that?”
    “We aren’t giving you a choice.”
    “Is that right?”
    “Very much so, Jack. We know more about you than you do, things that would make your life quite difficult should you decide to work against us as opposed to for us,” Hernandez said.
    I stared at him.
    “You don’t believe me,” Hernandez said, and I could hear the hint of a smile creeping into his voice. “Would you like me to prove it?”
    “By all means,” I muttered. It was getting hard to focus. My head felt wrong, overweight and about ten sizes too big. It felt like a snake had slithered its way into my skull and begun constricting around my brain. I was starting to get past the point of pain, past the point of want. I was heading into full-blown, soul crushing need.
    “We know that the vampire Adam is actively looking for you now, as evidenced by your little altercation earlier this evening. We know that given your predilection towards violence and your harrowing escape earlier that the police very well may take a very active interest in your whereabouts once the detective wakes up and your fingerprints are found in his car. We also know the full name of the demon to which your soul is bound.” Hernandez paused for effect before continuing. “Her true full name and we have a very, very powerful witch. I’m assuming you know what that means.”
    I glared at him. Having Alice’s true name, something I wasn’t even entirely sure of myself, would allow her to be exorcised. An exorcism could very well send her straight back to the pit, no passing go, and no collecting two hundred dollars. Since my soul was bound to her essence, it’d drag me right down with her.
    “You’re bluffing.”
    “Are we?” Yavetta asked.
    “Information is power, Mr. Draughn,” Al Dossari said quietly. Well, the bastard knew my name, at least.
    “Let’s assume for a moment that we are bluffing. Let me put this into a more concrete perspective for you,” Hernandez said. “Alikelvairya.”
    Alice’s true name echoed in my head, reverberating with its own kind of inherent power. For a long moment, I couldn’t speak. Hernandez had succeeded in his goal. He’d put my situation into a crystalline clear sort of perspective. That perspective said pretty blatantly that I didn’t have much in the way of options. I was going to have to play ball.
    “I believe he understands his situation,” Yavetta said.
    “This is bullshit,” I said, my voice swollen with