With a burst of flames the newly summoned demon stands before me. Big muscles, cloven feet, goatee, horns, glowing red eyes, all the standard demon stuff. His voice sounds a bit like rocks are getting crushed in his throat.

"What is your bidding master? Have you valiant heros for me to exterminate? Villages to burn? Wizards to dismember? Armies to slaughter?"

"No, " I reply. "I need you to work retail."

"Damn."

"Now help out with that shipment of leather pants, we need to be ready for the grand opening." As the massive demon trudges off I inspect the big display with the new edition of "Evil for Dummies".

My dimwitted minion walks up with a peice of paper. "I have the ad ready sir."

"Read it to me."

"Evil witch needed for dispensing curses in a retail environment. We offer competative wages and an evil working environment. Caldurn provided. Good witches and Wiccians need not apply."

"Fine. Run it." I go off to summon some more imps to help get the store ready.

How fortunate that I've brought my big shopping bag with me today. It's now crammed with garden tools, various flyers, several library books and take-out barbecue for lunch.

Hmmm. I feel like socializing. I consult my map to see on whom I might inflict my presence. Am-Chau's place is nearby. Maybe she'd like to go shopping with me. One of the flyers I picked up was for a place called "Aeshma's". That can't be a coincidence.

I grab two lattes at "The Blackest Bean" and head for Am-Chau's. No one responds to my knock, but I swear I hear scratching. Could be that damned bear.

"Am-Chau?"

No answer.

"Edward?"

Nothing but a faint scratching. I press my ear to the door. There is a voice, kind of. Maybe it's just the radio.

Feh. That would be much too simple an explanation for Blood City.

I sense a presence-- someone's there. //Dagfari? Who is it?//

//It's Penny. She has lattes.//

Time, I think, for the magically enhanced shouting. I trust Edward, but not a lot.

"Peeeennnnnnyyyyyy!!!!"

pauses in hacking route through rosebush to front door

"Huh. Was that Am-Chau?"

resumes chainsawing

Ow! I yank my head from the door. Okay, that was not the radio.

I set my things securely on the porch, then I remember something about the, um, mutable nature of Am-Chau's house. Maybe the coffees would be safer on the ground.

Trying the door only brings more yelling. There is, however, a window half-open.

"I'm sure she wouldn't mind a little B and E in a good cause," I mutter.

//Of course not// says a voice in my flipping head. Sometimes this place drives me nuts.

I take a run at the window and manage to get my head and shoulders inside. My backside is hanging out in a most undignified manner. Yanking and wriggling gets me mostly inside and then. . .

Ow. Again.

"Am-Chau?"

"I'm here. Get a rope."

"I'm here. Get a rope."

Sums up so much of life's little adventures.

I have rope. Well, twine. It should be strong enough - certainly worth a shot, anyway - I'll just double it a few times for safety.

No I just need a little weight. Aha! This coffee mug should do nicely. I attach the anchor end to the door knob, which seems secure.

"Am-Chau, I'm lowering the rope now. You should hear a coffee mug scraping on the side of the hole."

"My Edward Gorey coffee mug?" Am-Chau's priorities appear to be a bit off.

"Um. Not sure."

"Okay, can't be helped. Does it have coffee in it?" I ask, hopefully.

"I left the coffee outside, you can have it as soon as I haul you up."

I take off my shoes and socks to give myself traction for when Am-Chau is within grabbing distance. As I stare into the black pit, I feel a gentle pressure on my elbow. I leap several inches from the floor; difficult to do from a sitting position.

"Um. Am-Chau. Is there supposed to be a... a... an otherworldly creature thingy here? If not, what should I do?"

"Um..." What's she on about? Otherworldly creature indeed... oh! "Jossica, please leave Penny alone!"

The dragonabbit shows no sign of wanting to do anything other than sniff Penny, but this isn't helping me get out of the hole.

"Just shoo her away," I tell Penny. "She's not very... well, I don't think she's very dangerous. I'm still alive and we had breakfast together."