”This isn’t going to be all that easy to explain, you know.” Elisa commented as they walked from the room and she held the door open for the other woman. ”Everything else wouldn’t be a problem, but the claw marks, that’s a tough one.”

”…you seem resourceful, I’m sure you’ll think of something.” Demona said as they came out into the stairway.

”Watch your feet, there’s glass…” Elisa watched as Demona walked on it with no worry evident.

”My skin is more durable than yours is.” She explained.

”Evidently.” Elisa allowed. ”Which way are we going?” Elisa asked, referring to up towards the roof or down towards the street.

”Down.” Demona told her.

”If you’re sure.” She said. They walked down the steps to the second floor. ”Okay, this should be far enough away; he won’t be able to hear.”

”Against my better judgment, I’m trusting you, Elisa.” Demona told her, looking meaningfully into Elisa’s eyes and closing her hand around a bracelet that she wore on her wrist. She closed her eyes and spoke. ”Let form and being bend, for daylight world, let me amend.”

As Elisa watched, sparkles of light danced and around Demona and she… changed. Soon, she was a human woman, with red hair, and, Elisa noted, not very many clothes on.

Demona opened her eyes and their eyes met – Elisa recognized her. ”You’re Dominique Destine?” Dominique Destine was the owner and C.E.O. of Nightstone Unlimited, a rather large global corporation known for its work in research and development as well as for its rather extensive charitable endeavors. Elisa remembered seeing an interview with her on the news a few weeks ago in fact; she’d been impressed, as she recalled.

”Very few people know my secret, Detective Maza. Can I count on your… discretion?” She asked.

”I um, how did you do that though? Change like that?” Elisa asked.

”Magic. A spell, given to me by… a friend, for my protection.” She told her.

”Magic now…” She shook her head a little.

”My secret, Elisa. Will you keep it?” Dominique pressed, moving forwards towards Elisa, her eyes letting Elisa know that she was very serious about having an answer.

Elisa sighed and closed her eyes. ”I’ll give you the same deal that the lawyers and therapists give.”