This is a series of short stories, detailing the adventures of Chelsea Childling. You can start with her origin story or pick any story from the index.
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The old, uneasy feeling of too many people watching her slithered down Chelsea’s back as she rang the doorbell at Andy’s old warehouse. She truly hated New York City, and the sheer amount of people she could sense.

When the camera on the door didn’t move, she rang again. After waiting far too long for Andy to acknowledge her, Chelsea raised a fist and banged a few times. “It’s me. Open up.”

A snort from the sidewalk brought her glare around. Keegan shrugged and rolled his eyes. “He squats, you know. That means he moves around.”

“No, I didn’t know. Nobody told me.” She stalked down the stairs to her car, ignoring the ice ladened wind that blew at the fringe on her coat. “Nobody bothers to tell me a lot of shit.”

The white steam of Keegan’s sigh was his only reply before he opened the car door. “Why are we trying to catch him off guard?”

“Because nobody bothers to tell me shit.” Chelsea closed her eyes and leaned back in the driver’s seat. “In all honesty, I think I’m more likely to startle answers out of him.”

Keegan snickered. “He’s going to ask for favor. You know it, and I know.”

Chelsea groaned and smacked her head against the seat.

A soft, heavy head with serious doggy breath settled on her shoulder, and Bentley whined. She nuzzled her giant mutt’s head. “I’m okay, Bent. Just pissed off.”

“As usual.”

She opened her eyes to glare at Keegan. “Why are you here again?”

He shrugged, thin shoulder. “Nothing better to do.”

“Like you haven’t spent the last year playing nanny for your bitch sister.”

“Said bitch sister…” Keegan rubbed at his eyes. “She… I needed a break, and I think she needs a wake up call.”

A new wave of anger ripped through Chelsea’s blood. “I’m fucking taking back all my money.”

Keegan sighed. “It’s not her money, it’s Kate’s, right?”

Chelsea swallowed. “Fine. And you’re right.” She pulled out her phone and dialed Andy’s number.

He answered on the first ring, silky tones warming her ear. “Well, well, well, I was wondering when you’d call.”

Shock replaced anger. She was positive neither Jackson or Amber would ever tell Andy they were hunting a demon lord. “You know?”

“I know you’re in the city. I set up notifications if your cell phone pinged here.” Andy gave a long pause. “What did you think I know?”

She fought back her current biting anger. “Where are you? Cause I’m at the old house.”

“Oof, Red. We moved on.”

Chelsea rolled her eyes. “Where the fuck are you right now?”

“Calm down. I’m texting you the new address now.”

Thirty minutes and too much traffic later, Chelsea found herself in Andy’s latest lair. It might as well have been the old place. The same wires and cables ran across the floors, connecting the various computers. police scanners, and whatever else Andy used to keep tabs on the city. A few of his crew waved as she crossed the house, and somehow, she was holding a red solo cup of vodka as she crossed the wooden beads into Andy’s bedroom.

He stood as she entered. For a moment, neither spoke. Andy, like his hideout, seemed the same; Warm, brown skin, skyward curls, and black silk pajamas. But his cat-lines eyes flamed with anger she had never seen before as he crossed his arms and glared. “So, when were you going to tell me Jack and Amber were hunting together?”

She glared back at him. “An hour ago but you moved and didn’t tell me.”

Andy blinked, seemingly taken aback.

“Hey, man.” Keegan sauntered in with Bentley. “It’s been a while.”

Andy muttered under his breath before grabbing Keegan in a quick hug. “Good to see you in one piece.” He settled in the chair at his desk. “How you involved in this mess?”

Keegan hooked a thumb at Chelsea. “I’m with her.”

Andy muttered again and then turned back to her. “What happened? I thought you and Jack were together?”

“You also thought Amber was gonna stay here with me.” The words hurt in her throat and she burned them away with the vodka. “Maybe you aren’t as good with people as you think.”

Andy spun lazily in his chair. “I’m going to ignore that, because something is obviously very, very wrong, and I do adore you, whatever bullshit you’ve started.”

Chelsea opened her mouth, ready to tear into him.

Keegan leaned against the wall and waved a hand. “Have at him, princess.”

Her rising temper froze as she threw her old hunting partner a frown. “What, really?” Keegan usually worked hard at keeping her mouth under wraps.

“Yeah.” Keegan smirked at Andy. “He knows you didn’t start this, so that’s just a real asshole thing to say. Let him have it.”

Andy threw his hands in the air. “Yes, yes, I’m sorry. I’m just…” He drank deeply from a cup at his desk. “Why are they together and not here with you? And please, please do not mention a demon lord.”

Chelsea snapped her mouth shut.

“Fuck.” Andy sighed. “Fuck. Okay. Fuck.” He drained the cup and them tossed it over his shoulder.

Chelsea swallowed the bile creeping up her throat. “You know they’re together because you track our phones. So where are they?”

He took a deep breath before studying her over steepled fingers. “I track because I care about you, but I would never tell anyone where to find you, not even Jack or Amber.”

“Not even to save my life?”

Andy’s answering smile was all teeth and no happiness. “I have no reason to believe that they’re in real danger. Amber’s never gotten close this demon lord in all these years. Mostly it’s just her and Jackson revenge killing nightlings in the stupidest ways possible, and making terrible life choices in general.” A lazy hand waved at her. “Something you are intimately familiar with, yes?”

“Yeah.” Chelsea didn’t hold back the bite in her voice. “I am very familiar with how they hunt nightlings, which is why I’m here, asking for help.” She snorted. “Your definition of “real danger” is different from mine.”

Keegan shrugged. “They did almost get her killed.”

Andy waved an indifferent hand. “She was a newbie. They aren’t.”

“And I’m the one who saved both their asses that time.” Chelsea paused. “Wait, am I not a newbie anymore?”

Keegan and Andy exchanged glances before laughing. The tension in the room settled. Andy reached out for Bentley, and the dog happily pranced over for pets. “Red, give me some time. I need to think my way through this.”

“Through what?” She hated the pleading in her voice.

Andy smiled. “Through saving the littlest lecherous leprechaun and the bitchiest hunter on the planet from themselves.”

For the first time in weeks, Cheslea was able to take a decent breath. “Thanks.”

Andy rolled cat-lined eyes. “Don’t thank me. I’ll need a few favors.”

“Of course you do.” She shot Keegan a resigned look. He smirked at her before finishing her vodka. “What do you need us to kill?”