I know hes ticked off before I even see him, waiting for me at the entrance to Nexus Industries.

Then again, I guess the text he had sent was something of a giveaway. Des! Here. NOW! As if he can simply say jump and Ill answer how high?

Something inside of me suggests I cut him off at the legs about an inch below the knees. But really, I know Mike it really wouldnt stop him, or slow him down at all, I think. Also, it wasnt his first text of the day. Or his last, which read: NOW MEANS NOW! I guess I should be thanking my lucky stars that he hasnt actually resorted to calling me yet.

I straightened my blazer as I made my way up the stairs that led to the doors of Nexus Industries a grey, daunting monster of a building that was positioned right in the centre of Melbourne. Id been hoping to make it up to my office without being seen and pushback the inevitable confrontation by another couple of hours, but, alas. No such luck. Michael was waiting for me in the lobby which was just your generic lobby: dirty white walls with cheap canvas prints on them, cafe au lait coloured carpet, cheap wooden furniture, bored receptionist arms crossed over his chest, blonde hair falling in his blue eyes which, just by the way, were honing in on me like laser beams and square jaw working furiously.

Oh, crap. Hey, Mike, I said, feigning cheer. Hows it going? He glowered at me. Desdemona, he thundered. The receptionist flinched and tried to act like she wasnt eavesdropping. Do you have an idea as to why I am mad at you? No, I answered, and let to truth shine out through my eyes. And I was being honest I

didnt have an idea; I had several but no way was I going to admit to that on the off chance that I might have done something that Michael might not have found out about yet.

Michael could obviously hear the ring of truth in my voice, because although he glared at me suspiciously, he didnt comment. So, I said conversationally. What have I done this time, exactly? You made a complaint about me to the Arch! he exclaimed and now he seemed less angry, more. . .hurt.

Okay, I guess I should explain something.

Michael is Michael, as in, like, the archangel.

Seriously. Nexus which is just a really fancy word that means the joining point between two places Industries is made up of Nephilim and demi-demons, like me. We work with both angels and demons to try and keep the peace, and normally we succeed. And, I actually like Michael. In my defence, I probably wouldnt have complained unless he hadnt been planning on posting me in Hell during the cold season.

Really, he had it coming.

I tugged nervously at my left sleeve and then tucked a stray strand of vibrant red hair back behind my ear. Sorry? I was angry and I didnt mean it. I swear Ill go and withdraw my complaint right now.

Mike sighed and rubbed a hand over his face, suddenly seeming like the really, really old guy he actually was.

Too late, Desdemona, he said. Your complaint skipped right past the Arch and went to the Nexu. My blood turned to ice. The Nexu the only council in the world made up of both the Exalted and the Damned, of both Angels and Demons. And? my voice was little more than a whisper. Gabriel decided that, considering your. . .heritage, you might feel more comfortable working here if you worked under a representative of your. . .side. Oh, no, I said, mortified.

The Nexus was made for peaceful co-existence, but was run mostly by angels and of those with human blood in their heritage. Demons were considered too chaotic to run a business that focused on peace.

And now they were bringing one in as my boss.

Michael saw the look in my eyes, and his showed sympathy. Even though I was half-demon, my humanity was stronger than my animal side, just the way I liked it. When I was around full demons, they made me feel. . .less in control. What demon? I asked. Theyd be sending a more powerful one, that much I knew. They wouldnt trust an underling with such an important task. I believe he is called Adena. While in the human realm, he will take that as his last name and adopt the alias Daemon for his first name. Adena, I said. Means Born of Fire. I glared at Michael. Theyre sending a Makenna demon to be my overlord? Mike clapped me on the shoulder. Good luck, kid. It was nice knowing you.