6.

  The next morning, Joseph and Xisira rode in the convertible up to Kansas city, he followed the GPS to the mall and parked in section H.

  “Wow, a mall, they talk about these places all the time in the below,” Xisira said, “Okay, I have to take this in, there’s so much I want to see,” she said.

  “Do you want to get lunch first?” Joseph asked, “I looked it up, there’s a Mcdonald's in the Food Court,” he smiled.

  “Yes, first we dine, then we shop, oh these pleasures of the mortal world are more decadent and sinful then I could even imagine. It’s almost funny, all this decadence, and yet people are burning down there for indulgences as simple as eating meat on Friday, is today Friday?” she asked.

  “Yeah, it’s Friday,” Joseph said.

  “Then I’m getting every sandwich except the Filet’o’fish,” she laughed, and he almost had to chase her as she damn near skipped into the mall, Xisira was dazzled by all the lights, the halls, the shops, she wanted to buy something from every one of them. She came to the map at the entrance and looked over the outlay of the mall.

  “So, we’re here,” she said, putting her finger on the red arrow on the map. “You know, this looks a lot like the maps we have down below,” she said.

  “Didn’t see any of those when I was down there,” Joseph said, “The Below literally has maps that say ‘You are here’” he asked.

  “Pandemonium is quite a complicated city to navigate, we took this idea you mortals came up with, and it's actually been pretty convenient for us,” she said.

  “What do you want to hit first?” Joseph asked.

  “Food court,” she said, grabbing Joseph’s wrist and pulling him along as she laughed through the great halls of the Kansas city mall.

  “Wow, I’ve never seen something so bright,” she said, marveling at the back-lit, golden arches of the Food Court McDonalds. “This shade of yellow, I may be a demon bred for temptation, but I could never beat the temptation that this alluring shade of yellow makes, that against the red, why does it make me so hungry?” she asked, genuinely curious.

  “Hi welcome to Mcdonald's, how can I help you?” the girl in the dress shirt and polyester smock asked.

  “Yes,” Xisira said, “I would like to eat your most decadent and depraved sandwich,” she smiled, biting her lip and so giddy that she was finally getting her chance to eat at the famous Mcdonald's.

  “Ma’am, this is a Mcdonald's, pretty much everything we sell is decadent, but if you’re looking for calories, I guess that would be the Double Quarter Pounder,” she said.

  “Half a pound of meat, yes,” Xisira nodded, “I would like one Double Quarter Pounder, and I would like to Super-Size it, that’s what it’s called when you get a lot right?” she asked.

  “We don’t really do that anymore, is a large okay?” the clerk asked.

  “Yes, large, the largest you have,” she said, then turned to Joseph, “I’m going to be stealing some of your fries,”

  “Filet-o-fish combo,” Joseph said.

  “No, get a burger, get the real thing,” Xisira said.

  “It’s Friday, I’m catholic,” Joseph said.

  “You’re helping a demon escape hell, I think that eating beef on a Friday is going to be what mortals call, tiny potatoes,” she said.

  “Small,” Joseph said, “Small potatoes,” he shook his head, “Screw it, give me a big mac,” he said, “Large combo,” he turned to Xisira and smiled.

  “So naughty,” she grinned.

  That poor cashier had no idea what this conversation was about, but she just nodded and input the order.

  As they waited, Xisira was tapping her foot, “I thought this was supposed to be fast food, where is it,” she said.

  “It’s only been two minutes,” Joseph said.

  “This is ridiculous the way mortals in the below speak of this place they say that your food is presented as soon as you request it, patience is a virtue we’re never taught in the below, you see- oh wait, our foods ready, I take it back,” she said as she grabbed the tray.

  “Lunch time!” she cheered as she brought their food to a booth. Joseph followed her and sat across from her. Xisira took the box with her burger in it, “I am so excited,” she said, opening the box. “Oh my god, it's dripping, the decadence of it,” she took the Double Quarter Pounder in her hands and brought it to her mouth, taking a big bite of it, getting the ketchup, mustard, onion, and just a hint of pickle.

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  “How is it?” Joseph asked as he unwrapped his big mac.

  Xisira savored the flavor in her mouth, and rolled it all round her tongue, “This is,” she said with a mouthful before swallowing, “This is the single most pleasurable experience I have ever had, and I’m a pleasure demon,” she said, grabbing a handful of fries and shoving them in her mouth. She chewed away and washed it down with a big gulp of Coca-Cola.

  “That good? It’s just McDonald's,” he said.

  “You don’t understand, the below has nothing like this, believe it or not, Veganism is huge down there, meat is so hard to get your hands on, it’s probably one of our harshest punishments,” she said.

  Joseph took a bite of his burger, and then some fries, and washed it down, “So you’ve really never had McDonald's?” he asked.

  “Never, Mcdonald's was high on the list of reasons I wanted to get out of the below,” she said.

  “Let’s talk about these crossroads,” Joseph said, “We head there, wait for twilight, do the ritual, and your dad is out, what’s he going to do then?” he asked.

  “I don’t know, he has a glamor, and a ton of treasure he’s been saving up to trade, probably just buy a house in the middle of nowhere and live a quiet life, that’s what he always told me he wanted,” she said.

  “Is that the kind of life you want? Middle of nowhere, not bothering anyone, not being bothered,” Joseph asked.

  “I don’t know,” she said after swallowing another bite of her burger, “I want to see so much of the mortal world, you know? I bet he’ll have a ton of treasure he’ll bring from the below to share with you. You could be set for life by doing this,” she said.

  “You told me I’m only safe if I don’t receive anything for the deal,” Joseph said.

  “No, it's fine, he’ll give me the money, and then you can show me all the amazing things in this world,” she reached out and put her hand on his, “If you want to show me, that is, I think it would be fun, do you want to have fun?” she asked.

  “See the world on someone else’s dime, probably an easier life than hunting,” he said, “Okay, I’ll take you up on it, so long as my soul doesn’t get damned to the below, I’ll take you anywhere you want to go,” he said.

  “You know, there is this other, sinful location I wanted to visit here at the mall,” she grinned.

  “What would that be?” Joseph asked, taking another bite of his Big Mac.

  “I believe it’s run by a woman named Victoria, a woman with a secret,” she raised her eyebrows.

  Joseph coughed a bit on his food and had to swallow a swig of coke to keep from choking, “You want to go to Victoria’s secret?”

  “Yes, the garments in there are so interesting, I wonder why women don’t wear them in public more often, it would be very appealing,” she said.

  “Not exactly street wear, those kinds of garments are for, well, not for going out in,” he said.

  “What color garment do you think I should get? My gut says black, but I think white could be fun, maybe red,” she said, listing off several inappropriate ideas for Joseph as he couldn’t help but wonder what this beautiful demoness would look like in some high-end lingerie.

  “I’ll have to find something, something that goes with the dress I’m going to get,” she said.

  “You’ve been planning this mall trip for a while, haven’t you?” Joseph asked.

  “Yes, I want to go to a night club and go dancing tonight, we have dancing in the Below, but the music is terrible, and the atmosphere is totally off, it’s all about sin and debauchery, instead of fun and carefree,” she said, “Can you take me to a dance club tonight?” she asked.

  “Yeah, I guess, why not,” Joseph smiled. Damn if she was using her demonic powers to charm and seduce him, she wasn’t anything like the demons he had spent his career fighting. She was bubbly, kind, and quite harmless by every judgment he could make about her. Maybe it was true, maybe this Xisira and her father really did just want out of the below, wanted to be away from this horrible war.

  “Okay, dinner and dancing,” Joseph laughed, “Unbelievable,” he smirked.

  “What is?” Xisira asked, taking another great bite of her burger.

  “McDonald's then dancing, This may be the cheapest date I’ve ever been on, usually when I see a lady I got to take her somewhere nice, expensive nice,” he said.

  “Is this really a date!” Xisira lit up, a little dollop of ketchup on the side of her mouth, “I’m in the mortal world and I’m going on a date! Just like a real mortal woman! This is so exciting, yes this is a fun date,” she said, “Now give me some of your fries,” she said reaching over and stealing off Joseph’s tray.

  After lunch, Joseph led Xisira through the mall, “So what do you want to do next?” he asked, “I traded every Coin I had before we left Oklahoma, I got plenty of cash,” he smiled, “It’s your first day in the mortal world if there’s any occasion to do it up why not now,” he said as Xisira moved her hand to take his and interlace their fingers.

  “What are you doing,” Joseph asked, just blushing a bit as he looked down at the joined hands.

  “It’s a date, that’s what you said right? Mortal men and women hold hands on dates, so I’m holding your hand,” she said.

  “Okay?” Joseph said, squeezing back, her skin was a bit cooler than a mortal woman’s hand, and the sensation was again quite different and pleasant. Joseph smiled as he felt a little relieved. If this Temptress was truly using her power to beguile him with her demonic charms, she wouldn’t be so silly about it. From what Joseph had heard of men tempted by Succubi there was no need for dinner and dancing, they just got right to the good stuff as soon as they wrangled whatever they were trying to get out of the once noble and tempted men.

  “I’m going to get something at Victoria’s Secret, and if I feel like it, maybe you can see it later,” she said, “Give me some cash,” she held her hand out.

  Joseph shook his head, “Sure,” he said, handing her a few twenties, “What, you don’t want to model anything for me?” he smirked.

  “Uh-uh-uh, no peeking,” She cocked her head to the side, “Maybe later tonight, after the club, maybe I’ll let you see it,” she got up on one foot and leaned into his ear, “I really hope you like it,” she giggled as a shiver went down Joseph’s back.

  Joseph obeyed the temptress and got a soft pretzel as Xisira went on her little shopping spree at Victoria’s Secret. He met her outside the store when she was done, holding a little pink bag.

  “Did you find something you like?” he asked.

  “Oh yes, and I think you’re going to like it too, like it very much,” she said, a cute little pout on her face as she bashfully bit her lip.

  Joseph was no stranger to attractive women. In his life as a high-class demon hunter, and a suave ladies’ man, he had known many beautiful women. But no earthly woman could ever have the charm, allure, and frankly innocent glow this feisty little demon girl had.

  “I need to get something to wear at the club, and I need new shoes,” she said.

  “Let me guess, high heels?” Joseph asked.

  Xisira shook her head, “No way, flats, definitely, down below women of my breed have to wear high heels all the time, it’s one of the worst tortures we have to endure.”