The demon woman smirks. My mistress is the rightful queen of hell, no matter what some demons may think. Belial has struck a deal with her. If she helps him take the earth, he will restore hell back to her. She is eager to take him up on the offer.

Kitty felt coldness seep into her blood at the demon's words.  They could not be true.  She stared accusingly at the demon-woman.

"You're a liar.  How can we believe any words from such as you?".

She did not know what this Hand of Baal was, but it did not sound very good.

The beautiful woman looks at Kitty with cold, amused eyes. Believe me, don't believe me it matters not to me. I have no reason to lie though. Your family is mired in your father's dealings. Just be glad that he is an ocean away girl. He wouldn't be happy at your present company.

Kitty had to smile at that one.

"I doubt very much that father has ever liked any of the 'company' I kept; if anything, these folks are a huge step up in that department.  As for lying, well, if you are in fact a demon then you need no reason to lie, other than to sow discord at the very least.  I know my father has his black marks, all humans do, but I need more proof than the word of a creature from hell that my father would sell out his own flesh.  There is ambition, and then there is insanity."

Her father had always been ambitious; even as a little girl she had seen that.  But was he insane enough to make a deal with the devil, literally, even had he believed such things were possible?  Doubt nagged at her, but what other proof was there?  This creature might be a source of information, but how could she not consider that source tainted?

"I am sorry, but I have never heard of your so-called 'Queen of Hell', or this Hand of Baal organization either.  But if you exist that I suppose I have to believe that they exist as well, although for all I know you could all be a bunch of liars and lunatics, fit only for prison, or Bedlam.  What proof do you have of your words?"

My but you are a spirited one she laughs, though there is no mirth in it. I don't need to prove anything to you. You are nothing but a hairless monkey, a pile of animated worthless meat. If you want to know so badly go and ask him, see how quickly he guts you himself. she turns her back to you, instead addressing Lily. If you want to know anything more you will have to find someone else. I'm just a deal maker, I don't know everything. Only that hell will be Hecate's when all is said and done and I for one will be grateful for a real leader at last. And what of Belial? Do you know anything of him? Lily demands flatly. The demon smiles again. </DarkBlue>I know he is overconfident. He only has power because Hecate allows it. He thinks to use her as a pawn but she allows him to believe he is in a position of strength. Every witch in the world would choose loyalty to her over him, not to mention us crossroads demons.</DarkBlue> And what of the others? The shifters and other demons and any other nasty that has decided to throw their luck in with Belial? She could crush them if she wanted. But for now she will let Belial play at king, see what use she has of him. And how has her father fit in with Belial? The wench's father did come to me with a deal years ago, but he ended up being so wonderfully rotten that I let him trade his soul for his daughter's. Pretty unorthodox really, but he tricked her into it easily enough. Now he recruits humans for Belial. He's been very useful. He'll make a fine demon someday. she grins at Kitty mockingly.

Hairless monkey??  What kind of insult was that, Kitty thought, puzzled at the demon's insult.  But if the thing had anything to do with her father's foul deeds, then it was guilty too.

"If this is true, then my father must be stopped.  And so should you."

She pointed the revolver at the creature, and opened fire.

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Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
(OOC: 10:40, Today: Kitty Kelly rolled 15 using 1d20+7. revolver. +5 base attack +2 Dex/weapon finesse)

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Simon looked very upset. "Stop. What do you mean traded his daughter's soul for his own. Explain this."

Kitty barely misses the demon and suddenly she doesn't look so confident. Shaking with rage she lunges to the edge of her prison, red eyes blazing. Keep the wench under control or I tell you nothing more! she snarls, though she looks very upset at the near miss. You wanted the truth, that doesn't mean it was going to be pretty In answer to Simon's question she smirks again. A soul can be harvested you know, even turned into a demon if you twist at it long enough. William Kelly promised me a number of souls if I let him keep his. I agreed, provided he prove his loyalty to me by choosing someone of his own blood. Clearly he made his choice she eyes Kitty warily, expecting more fallout from the woman. Killing her was unnecessary, the body can live without a soul, not that it is truly living of course. The Ripper rituals tie in to Belial's plans. You'll have to ask him about that. she shrugs. Meanwhile Lily steps to Kitty and puts a gentle hand on her shoulder. I understand your anger Kitty, but right now answers are more important than killing her. You will be able to avenge your sister, I promise you that she says firmly.

When the Demon lunged at Kitty he stepped between them and used his Aspergillum to flick holy water onto her. "That was a warning. The next time I will not be so restrained. I have learned that a Last Rites ceremony can be quit unpleasant when used on your kind."

He paused as she answered his own question. "So this man bartered his own child. You said he was able to persuade her, please explain this."

The demon looks none too happy at Simon's actions, but recovers quickly. A soul can be stolen without permission, but someone had to pay the price in the end for his contract and do so willingly. He tricked her into giving it up. The fool didn't realize what she was doing, perhaps she thought the whole thing a farce so when he brought her to me she agreed laughingly, never realizing the fulness of her actions. A week later when he had the Ripper take her, his debt was most agreeably paid.

Deacon shuddered and looked a bit sickly. "I have nothing further for this demon. Do either of you have questions?"

"Only one" , replied Kitty, her anger smoldering, "when can I kill it?"

Deacon smiled, he admired Kitty's passion. "Killing the body will simply release the demon. Performing an exorcism amounts to the same. I have found that performing Last Rites may have a different outcome. If you two are willing I could perform that Rite now."

"I don't want that thing 'released', I want it destroyed, so it never again makes such 'bargains'.  Will your rite do that?""

Simon could not lie, "I honestly do not know. I have only done it once and the results were...energetic. I believe it may at the very least put them in a place where it is more difficult for them to return. A demon is not what you see, it is a being of spirit. I do not think it possible to destroy a being of spirit. Lily, Penny mentioned something about capturing the soul in a jar, do you know anything about that?"

The demon listens, growing furious. You said you would let me go! Liars! she snarls. Call me what you will but I ALWAYS keep my bargains! When I crawl out of hell I will gut you and everyone you ever loved! Judging by the rage on her face you have a feeling she will try to make good on that promise. Lily listens to Simon's question with a frown. I don't know if a soul can ever truly be destroyed. Exorcising them sends them back to the pit and it is very difficult to climb back out, though the more tenacious can do it she looks at the woman warily. And yes, I had heard there were ways to capture a human soul. The body is left alive with no morality or conscience and it can do terrible things while left on its own. The souls can be tormented and twisted until they become demons themselves, if left to it long enough. Though there are plenty of other uses for human souls. She turns to the crossroads demon. Why do they want souls? Surely you have an army large enough already. The woman glowers in response. I'll tell you nothing more.

Simon raised his hand, "Actually what Lily said was 'your not going anywhere now,' and 'we can make this very painful for you.' I believe it was you who said we would let you go, and I do not remember any of us agreeing to that. I remember Lily starting the Exorcism Rite. So if any deal was made it was - suffer pain now or tell us what we want to know. I believe we have kept our side of that particular bargain. Simply because you failed to specify what you wanted in exchange for the information does not make us responsible for your collateral assumptions.

Now if you wish to make such a deal I would suggest you put your terms on the table, clearly and concisely, before you say anything else."

"What I should like to know is how can someone bargain away a soul that does not belong to them - surely every person's soul is their own?  How can he give to this creature what does not belong to him, without consent?  I know a rotten fish when I smell it..."

The demon looks surprised at Simon's words, but glowers as she realizes the truth in them. Alright then priest. My terms are that you let me go. In exchange I promise I will not divulge any of this to my superiors. They would be most interested to hear how much you've already discerned. Think what you want of demons, but we always keep a deal when we make one. Lily nods thoughtfully, confirming this statement. At Kitty's words the woman continues. Yes, someone must be willing to barter their own soul, but that doesn't mean they cannot be tricked or cooerced into doing it. In your sister's case I recall a great deal of whiskey was involved, and I took a meatsuit that was more...appealing to her. She didn't really know what she was doing she shrugs. But the dotted lines were all signed so to speak so it satisfied the fine print.

Simon stood a bit straighter, squaring his shoulders and trying to make himself seem as large and male as possible. "I am not worried about what demons know of me. I have Him," Simon points up to Heaven, "on my side. The Bible says I have the authority to call down an army of angels, to bring dried bones to life, to call on fire from the sky, or simply to ask my Father to remove you from your meat suite. There is no scenario you can come up with where you are not exorcised. Your only choices are in how painful that exorcism will be." There is no attempt at deception in Simon's words.

"My counter offer, you promise to continue to answer our questions and when we have gotten every drop of information out of you I will perform a simple exorcism. The alternative is that you stop providing us with information and I perform the Last Rites instead." 

10:05, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 11 using 1d20+1. Intimidate.

"You got her drunk and you tricked her???  Oh, you cowardly, lying piece of filth!"

Barely able to suppress her rage, Kitty picked up the nearest rock and tossed it at the demon's head.

The demon dodges the rock easily and gives Kitty a chiding look. Don't get mad at me. Your father was the one who set her up. I was merely collecting on his deal. she smirks. At Father Simon's words she arches a cool eyebrow. I am not a mere deal maker in hell. I have connections. Whatever you do to me there will be consequences. In the meantime there's not much else I know anyway so do what you will. Her eyes are cold and challenging, filled with hate and yet the rest of her face is calm.

Simon knows the one thing all demons have in common is ego. If he could play her right he might get more out of her yet. "Ha! I've heard that one before. Threats from your kind always come with a boast. Hell doesn't send senior management to answer a minor call like the one Lily sent."

The demon looks furious at Simon's accusations. I am no mere deal maker priest. I have connections to Hecate herself. She has plans for me when all of this is through. I'll be sure that the first thing I do when I return to the pit is put a bounty out on all three of you!

Simon did not smile, but his eyes may have given him away, "Oh really? So your moving up then? What sort of plans would be in the works for an ordinary deal maker?"