The hours slowly passed, with no signs of the Demon. Lorivica periodically appeared and disappeared, with only a quick look around the room to check if things were still the way she had left them. The only thing that changed through the day was the tension. Tori seemed to forget as best she could, chattering away to (and occasionally lip-locking) Seth, who seemed almost too depressed outside of Tori to do much else.

Kristina was regretting not getting that beer. If only it was warmer outside… if only she had gotten more beer last night, then she would have had something to drink, and she would not have bothered answering the door in the first place. She would not have said yes to their situation, and she would not have agreed to come here, and she would certainly not have dedicated herself to an impossible mission.

Kristina grew more anxious as the hours passed, with nothing else to do than to look after the Demon. He had to be still around, he wanted that immortality, and he wanted it on his terms. Adding on to the pressure, her paranoia forbid her to leave. What powers did he have, and how aware would she be of them?

It was another one of Lorivica’s visits when she sighed and mumbled under her breath, “At least he knows how to make us wait.” She was nearly as nervous as Kristina was, but neither was portraying it as accurately as possible, as Kristina had only managed to pace and stare at the wall since last something outside of Tori and Seth actually happened.

“What, should he know something else?” Kristina mused aloud, mostly out of the sheer boredom of it. “He’s got everyone on edge, and as of right now, he’s got the upper hand.”

Kristina could hear the muffled groans coming from the corner beside her again, and resisted the urge to throw something. “Why do you think that?” Lorivica asked.

“Because we’re sitting around waiting for him to make a move instead of chasing his ass down, is why.” Kristina shot. “If I had even more information on him, like why he wants this immortality so badly, I could have something against him.” She sighed softly at her own dismay. She was fresh out of ideas, and that in itself was enough to make anyone depressed.

Lorivica looked at her thoughtfully, taking a moment’s hesitation. “Being worried is probably bad for your health.”

“So is being chased by a Demon.” Kristina grumbled. “I guess the only thing I can do for right now is strengthen our defenses, since we know he’s coming back.” She sighed again, not feeling completely right for this mission once again. “If you can’t fight the Demons, can you at least act as some kind of lookout to give me warning?”

Lorivica’s face showed that she did not like receiving orders as much as she liked giving them, but she rolled her eyes anyway and agreed. “Fine.” She breathed. She took a moment again before saying, “Do you hear music?”

Kristina heard a melody, indeed, one that was generic and almost techno-like. Both Seth and Tori noticed enough to look at her, the previous with terror, and the latter with anger. It was coming from her pocket; she still had her cell phone. “Umm… sorry. Let me go outside and take this, I don’t know why someone would call me.”

Why would someone call her now? The only reason she still had this phone was because her old boss had forgot to ask for it back when she quit. The only people that would have this would be co-workers, and none of them would bother to call her now. They were probably planning something totally different. So what was this about? Were they keeping tabs on her?

She rushed outside, the January air hitting her like a brick wall. Her blood was already tainted by ice, all it would do was make the cold limbs numb, the numb extremities already were. She took a moment to look at the picture identification, then hit the talk button and put it to her ear. “What do you want?”

He laughed on the other side of the line. “Why would you greet me like that, Nogard?”

“Because you’ve only been stalking me for the past six months and you only have this number thanks to your father.” She said forcefully, clutching at the sleeve of her sweatshirt. “I asked what do you want?” She said through clenched teeth.

“They know what you’re doing. I thought I would warn you.”

Kristina sucked wind inaudibly. Had they sped up their efforts that much since last time? “Then why aren’t they here yet?” Kristina growled. “If they know where I am, why haven’t they come for me yet?”

“My father still has some sway with the people above him.” He mentioned. “He’s got them going in circles, thanks to some fake leads I’ve fed him.”

“He must already know the truth. Or what appears to be the truth, this case gets stranger every minute.” Kristina said, believing that her ex-boss could figure something like this out with the greatest of ease.

“Oh?” He sounded surprised on the other side of the line. “Who would have thought I would have heard Nogard say the word ‘strange’, it’s got to be one hell of a case then.”

“Can it, I don’t need your commentary.” Kristina forced, trying to keep her tone low as a police car rolled by slowly. Did they not notice the bright red sports car that was sitting outside or were they just dumb? “What have you told them?”

“I told them you escaped somewhere in the mountains in Virginia.” Kristina resisted the urge to threaten him. “But that won’t keep them busy for long. The girl’s dad is a lead anchor of a news station on Nebraska Avenue.”

“So what? That hasn’t meant anything before.”

“It means that we can’t cover up the news, that’s why this broke so fast.”

Kristina cursed under her breath. He was right, the free press amendment killed that notion with one fell swoop. “Look, you have to keep them busy for the next day or so.” Kristina hissed with the cold biting at her throat. “Send them into an expedition into the jungles of Guam or something, I don’t care.”

He sighed on the other side of the line. “Kristina…”

“What?”

“Why are you doing this?” He asked softly, almost innocently. A passerby would think he was just being nice to her, just something that a guy would do.

“I could ask you the same.” Kristina stated.

He spoke very quietly, like he was hiding from something. “I just wanted to see you safe again, with me.”

It took the remnants of the control she had to keep from screaming at him. “I’ve always been safe. Walker knows I’m right, otherwise he wouldn’t be protecting me now. He wouldn’t have covered for me when I went AWOL, either.”

“He didn’t cover for you. I d--.”

“That’s a lie.” Kristina spoke over him. “You broke into classified records, my records, and then tried to find out every bit of information on me. Walker covered for you too, he knew what you were up to. The only reason he did it was because you’re his son.”

There was silence on the other side of the line for what felt like an eternity. They both should have been at least kept an eye on for their actions, but instead, the same person was protecting both of them. “He’ll eventually stop you.”

“Eventually, if I give him enough time, he will, but I left him with bigger fish to fry than me. He’s trying not to be run by his superiors for right now.” Kristina took a breath. “If they had any sense at all, his superiors would be keeping tabs on him, but I don’t have a doubt he can protect himself. He’s got enough power and influence to go on his own.”

There was another silence, another pause from him as he thought of what to say. Kristina didn’t have a clue what was going through the boy’s head. He knew that he would be caught for this eventually. He might not get a federal indictment, as he would if he was anyone else, but he would at least get Walker further up his ass than he should.

“I’m sorry, Nogard.” He said slowly. Kristina could hear a twinge of sorrow in his voice.

“What are you apologizing for? Use logic next time, it could help you.” Kristina said coldly. He kept on stopping, Kristina presumed to think or breathe. What a dumb boy he was. “And next time I’m being hunted, don’t try to drag out the conversation. I’m fighting something I’m sure you don’t have information on, let alone have heard of.”

“I know there’s nothing I can say, but…”

Kristina leapt in the middle of his sentence, “No, there isn’t anything you can say. There’s nothing you can do, other than make sure that the Government doesn’t find me for… however long this takes.” Insulting him was not going to win him over, but how long had he scared her? How many times had she looked over her shoulder, and how many nights had she slept with one eye open? “I’m asking you as a co-worker, not as anything else.”

He was choosing his words very carefully. “I have no doubt my father will protect you, even if I went against him.” He sniffed; Kristina couldn’t tell over the phone exactly what, but she assumed he had a cold. “But you should probably watch out for him. He told me he plans to reorganize the Government soon. I’m not sure how much you want in on that one, but there it is.”

Kristina nodded. “Noted.”

“And Nogard?”

“What else?”

He hesitated a little bit longer than he had previously. “I-I love you.”

Kristina rolled her eyes. “Shut up and leave me alone.”

Despite her command, he kept talking. “I’ve always loved you, ever since I saw you. I love the way y—“

“I said shut up!” Kristina was willing to yell.

“—and the way you dress. I love everything about you, Kristina!”

“Go to Hell, Greg!”

The echoes of the phone snapping shut sounded like a gunshot ringing through the city.