This is a collaboration story I did Chroias! Yeah, my fist collaboration!! I hope there are more to come 'cause it was fun! She started it, so she gets most of the credit!
Disclaimer: alright big disclaimer here: Mozenrath and Xerxes © to Disney. Chroias is © to Kalynn Osburn. Nefret and Anubis are MINE! If you wish to use Chroias please contact Kalynn not me. Thanx! Rated Pg for suggestive content.

Chapter 1 (by kalynn)
(The story opens up with Mozenrath stomping up and down the Citadel halls. He seems impatient and he taps his foot)

Mozenrath: Where is she?

Xerxes: Maybe she have prior engagement.

Mozenrath: I am not being stood up! (tries to strangle Xerxes)

Chroias: Mozie you promised to be nice to him. (Mozenrath looks up and sees a tall demon standing above him. She has pure white skin and dark emerald green hair. Her 5-foot tail is twitching slowly back and forth.)

Mozenrath: Chroias. (starts to smile and thinks better of it) Where have you been?

Chroias: Well excuse me for being a tad late. I never complained when you were late. In more than one area!

Mozenrath: (blushes) Never mind. Well why were you late?

Chroias: My father Hades. He wanted me to totally reorganize the torture scale for the lawyer section of Tarturus. Do you have any idea how many lawyers are down there?

Mozenrath: (puts his arm about her waist) Don't worry I forgive you.

Chroias: Oh you forgive me huh?! (pulls one of his stray hairs)

Mozenrath: I know I'm too generous for me own good.

(He begins to pull her in for a kiss. But Chroias giggles and pushes him away.)

Chroias: NOnonono. You aren't getting any that easily.

Mozenrath: Oh I'm not am I?

Chroias: Of course not. You think you'd be dating me if I made it easy for you.

Mozenrath: I'd thank you not to say were dating quite so loudly. I have certain ears about I'd rather not have hearing that.

Chroias: You mean Nefret?

Mozenrath: If you must know, yes Nefret. And if I have anything to say she never will know were dating.

Chroias: Well why not? I want to meet her. (red eyes begin to glow) Mozie you wouldn't be sneaking around behind my back now would you? (pulls a whip out of thin air and cracks it experimentally)

Mozenrath: (looking slightly nervous) NO no. Now Chroias. Would I do that to you?

Chroias: HELL AND BELL YES YOU LITTLE CHARMER!!

Mozenrath: (smiling) Probably. But ya see things aren't like that between Nefret and me.

Chroias: Really? (she pulls Mozenrath close)

Mozenrath: Of course not. (he kisses her lips lightly)

Chroias: (pulling him closer as she speaks) Well then you wouldn't....mind....if...I... went to see her now. (pushes Mozenrath away)

(Mozenrath lands on a heap on the floor)

Mozenrath: WAIT CHROIAS NO!!!

(He's to late as Chroias walks out the door, a determined look on her face.)

Mozenrath: As if my problems weren't enough already.

 Chapter 2 (by Me, Laura)
        Nefret twirled around and slapped the cistrem against her hip, it produced a pleasing rattling sound that blended musically with the rhythm of her feet on the throne room floor. The beat was broken as the door was pushed open a little to hard and banged against the wall. Nefret rolled her eyes, ‘why is Moze in a mood now?’ she asked herself.  She smiled again and shook the cistrem rapidly before spinning around to the source of the disturbance talking in a singsong voice as she did.

“Hey Moze, want to watch my new danc…….”  Her voice faded away and her face faulted. She had expected to see her lord in the doorway in one of his many foul moods, but instead a woman meet her eye. But no normal woman, a demoness. Nefret’s hand went to the high slit in her skirt. Her fingers grazed her father’s dagger that she had taken to keeping strapped to her thigh. Mozenrath soon appeared behind the woman and gave his henchwoman a nervous look and shook his head. Nefret’s grimaced as she thought for a moment, but let her hand drop away from the weapon and waited for someone to explain what the hell was going on. The demoness approached Nefret with a grin that made the young Egyptian woman uneasy; she stopped at an uncomfortably close distance.

“So this is your minion eh?” The red-eyed woman asked Mozenrath but never took her eyes off Nef. “Hello Nefret, My name is Chroias.” She extended her hand tipped in vicious looking claws. Nef took it with a false smile.

“Any friend of Mozenrath is an…..acquaintance of mine.” But as Nef spoke the sarcastic words she could feel Chroias's  fingers tightening over hers, locking them in a competitive show of strength. Nefret returned the favor and crooked her fingertips down, imbedding her nails in the pale hand of the demon to drive her point home. Chroias laughed and loosened her grip turning her head over her shoulder to address Mozenrath.

            “She’s a spirited little one isn’t she!” she turned back to Nefret, her eyes flashed. “Just your type.” She added in a menacing voice. Moze grumbled and ran a worried hand over his face.

            “I’m guessing your staying for a few days?” he inquired. Chroias answered with a toothy grin. Moze sighed. “Well I’ll show you to your room.” He motioned for her to follow him out into the hallway.

            “That wont be necessary.” The demon chimed in. Mozenrath whirled around surprised. “I’m sure Nefret here can show me.” She put a friendly arm around Nef’s shoulders and bared her fangs in an evil grin.

            “Girl in troubl….” But Mozenrath grabbed Xerxes in a throttling grip before he could finish. The sorcerer left the room mumbling something that sounded like… “I better start looking for an new assistant…….”

            Chroias followed Nefret up the stairs dragging her eyes over Mozenrath’s minion, measuring her up. Her hair lay in unruly tresses of some odd color that could only be described as plum, her skin was a creamy tan, and the young woman’s eyes where heavily lined in black. She was a good deal shorter than the daughter of Hades, who was 6ft, and was perhaps 5’5”. From what Chroias could gather she was probably around 17 or 18, a few years younger than Mozenrath, but not to young to interest that jackal!  But what Chroias really noticed were her clothing, a teal top that covered only the essential part of her chest and nothing more, and a skirt that was split so high up the sides it was nearly cut in half. Was this how she trampsed about the Citadel all day? In front of HER Mozenrath? 

“Your name is Chroias. That is about as far as you got.” Nefret reminded the other woman.

“Yes, I’m sure you haven’t heard much of me. I am Mozenrath’s guardian. Its my job is to keep him alive as long as possible.”  A smug look came upon her face. “When he dies he belongs to me. But you kinda screwed that up, didn’t you? With the sharks tooth. Hey don’t worry about it. I still need Mozenrath around and I’ve never been one to hold a grudge.”

“Then I sort of did you a favor didn’t I?” Nefret asked the woman, not really expecting an answer. “Well for you, an immortal demon, another 1000 years isn’t long to wait. Don’t get me wrong, if I had but known he had a lover waiting for him in death….” Nefret left the statement unfinished as they entered the chamber hall. She grinned slyly and watched the demoness out of the corner of her eye. Chroias almost gave away her surprise but was able to keep a straight face. “Ha, did you two really think you could keep it under wraps?” Nef asked. The demoness looked over with a raised eyebrow in an unspoken question. “How did I know? I am a priestess of Hathor, and a woman. I can tell.” Nefret opened the very last door of the corridor and began striping the linens off of the barley used furniture.  “The way he looks at you, the strange way he’s been acting all morning, and most notably your aggression towards me.” Mozenrath’s henchwench explained between grunts of her labor as she prepared the room for use. Chroias plopped down on the newly made bed.

            “So you know what I’m wondering then?” She asked as she watched Nefret take a basin of water from a mumluk and set it on the dressing table.

            “A Priestess of Hathor, and servant of Mozenrath yes, seer….no.” Nefret turned to Chroias motioning for her to continue.

            “Are you Mozenrath’s mistress?” Chroias asked bluntly cracking a whip that appeared out of nowhere. Nefret choked for a moment and she raised her hand to her mouth. Chroias was sure she had caught that little devil Mozenrath red handed. But instead of a tearful confession uncontrollable laughter meet Chroias ears. She looked up staggered. “What the hell is so funny?” Nefret could hardly bring herself to answer.

“Mozenrath and I……..” She managed to sputter before another wave of mirth overtook her.

“I’ll have you know my Mozie is a very handsome man and you’d be extremely lucky to have him.” Chroias knew she should be relived, and she was to a degree, but also offended that this woman should be so amused by the thought of him.

            “I know, I know.” Nef wiped her eyes getting in control. “It’s just that things have never been that way and I am rather amused that you would ever get that idea. Surly you don’t see any of the signs!” Nef started to fold the dust linens.

            “It seems only natural, you and Mozenrath living out here, alone…. Well at least with no other living soul around.” She corrected herself as a mumluk on patrol passed by the open door. “Not to mention the fact that Mozenrath is a little charmer!”

            “I can testify to that!” Nefret chuckled but hastily shut up as the whip appeared again. She cleared her throat apprehensively. “Mozenrath and I prefer to keep our relationship strictly within the realm of a friendly lord and assistant. Things are….easier that way. Dinner will be ready by the time you wash up. You do know the way to the dinning room?”

“Darling I have been walking these halls while you were still on bended knee at your temple.” Chroias stated as she rose and began preparing for dinner.

“Than see you at the dinner table.” Nefret smiled and walked out of the room still holding back laughter. Her eyes were watering and she could hardly see where she was going. She gasped and choked back her yell of shock as she walked into something solid. “Oh! Good evening my lord Mozenrath. Excuse me.” that said she broke into another fit of laughter and patted his shoulder before heading into her room. Moze looked after her curiously. He took a step in the direction of his minion’s door then thought better of it and continued down the hallway to Chroias’ room.

Chapter 3 (by Kalynn)
        Chroias couldn't decide as to what her opinion on her Mozie's little servant was. The girl was pretty enough, she would admit that much. And was hating to admit that the girl seemed rather intelligent. But what she really hated admitting to was the fact that she was starting to LIKE the blasted minx. A clicking sound came up behind her and she turned to see Mozenrath in the door. "Hello love." She said seductively as he sat down beside her. 

"Hi." He pulled Chroias a bit closer. "You actually let her live?" Chroias laughed.

"That remains to be seen." She drew a claw across Mozenrath chin. "I got to admit I like the little brat. She's....tenacious!"

"You have no idea." Mozenrath sighed. "Sometimes I could just kill her.” He saw the look of hope on Chroias's pale face. "But I did make a deal. And I am NOTHING if not at least true to my word."

"Oh really? And what about that little vacation in the Abyss you promised me?" She let her hand roam decidedly to Mozenrath's red sash.

"Dinner time!" Xerxes called out into the room interrupting the two's moment and earning a vile look from Chroias.

"You know I hate that damn eel." She whispered into Mozenrath's ear.

"Xerxes is useful to me in his own way." He gripped on of Chroias's wrists. "And don't even think about sending another hell hound after him. I spent a month repairing all the furniture and getting new shoes after what he did. Not to mention all the cleaning Nefret had to do when he left all the post housebroken presents lying around." Chroias batted her eyes becomingly.

"Now Mozie, would I pull a stunt like that?"

"Ta hell you wouldn't!! And don't sick any on Nefret either. I went through a lot of trouble to get a hold of her."

"You better not be getting a hold of any of her!" Chroias cracked a whip in the air. If possible Mozenrath paled even further. "I believe Xerxes said dinner was ready."

Nefret was sitting patiently at a table when Mozenrath entered followed by the demon Chroias. He dark green hair was pulled back in a lose bun with strand's sticking out and curling in odd ways. She wore a complicated black dress with two slits going all the way up to her hip, showing the pale shapely legs beneath. Her bare white arms extended as Mozenrath pulled out her chair for her.

        "You know he's only a gentleman when I'm around." Chroias directed the comment to Nefret.

The plum haired girl smiled. "I wasn't aware Mozenrath even knew how to be a gentleman."

“I'll have you know I'm perfectly capable of being courteous when the need arises."

"I’ll bet the need isn't the only thing arising." Nefret mumbled under her breath. Chroias chocked back a laugh as she sipped wine. She pressed a napkin to her mouth in an attempt to hide it.

Mozenrath gave her a deadly glare. "Maybe you need some fresh air."

Chroias giggled lightly. "No! No! I'm fine! Promise." She turned her red eyes to Nefret. "Your...assistant has quite a keen perception of things." She twitched her tail back and fourth.

"Sometimes I think a little too keen." Mozenrath turned the glare to Nefret.

"Oh Moze you really aught a stop being so serious. Chroias thinks its funny and she hates me." Nefret glanced cautiously at the demon who took on a surprised look.

"Hate you? What in the seven desert's made you think I hated you?" Chroias' fangs glinted as her mouth was hanging open in shock. "I don't hate you."

"Really?" Nefret remained wary of the demoness.

"Believe me..Nefret was it...I don't have the time to hate every girl Mozenrath has ever put in the Citadel. It would take me the next thousand years just to get rid of half of 'em."

"So your not mad?" The question came from both Nefret and Mozenrath at the same moment.

"I wouldn't say I'm particularly pleased over the situation." Chroias darkened at Nefret slightly. "But I would say this may take a bit of getting used to." Xerxes hissed angrily in the corner. He had expected to see the Nefret girl get a quick banishment into Hell before the dinner was over. But as it appeared, his fun had been destroyed.

"How long are you going to be staying?" Nefret asked nervously. Chroias thought. Really she had only planned to come for a date, but if this Nefret girl was going to be around long.....

        "Perhaps a year or two. After all, I can't just leave my Mozie LIEING AROUND can I." She looked about the Citadel. "Besides I've heard a certain street rat is commenting on how Mozenrath needs a girlfriend.... What's his name? Al... Ali Babba or something like that."

"Aladdin." Mozenrath sneered at the name. "We can go to Agrabah tomorrow if you want."

          "No rush Mozie. I'd like to get to know Nefret here a bit better." Chroias grinned at Mozenrath's assistant. Her smile was totally unreadable. Xerxes sniggered in the corner. Maybe master's girlfriend would get rid of her.

Chapter 4 (by me)
        Dinner had gone well enough. The conversation had mostly consisted of Chroias reporting on what was new in Tauraus and Mozenrath plotting what he should do when he and Chroias arrived in Agrabah. His vision was the usual, slash …burn …humiliate ….maim…kill. Nothing that Nefret hadn’t heard out of his mouth a thousand times over. After all seven courses had been served and cleared Nefret excused herself politely to let them, well…. Do whatever they wished. She lay on her side across a large ottoman in the study flipping though a book trying to find a spell Mozenrath had wanted, but she just couldn’t bring herself to read. ‘Why hasn’t Moze ever told me of Chroias? He could have at least prepared me for a 6ft red-eyed demon on a jealous rampage!’ She tossed the book away and let her head hang over the side of the couch. “Oh well” she sighed. “At least I’m still in one piece. For now, at least.” Nef closed her eyes to get some much-needed relaxation. A cold shock ran through her system as something warm and wet ran itself across her right eye. She sprang up and to face her much beloved hound Anubis. She playfully pulled him into an embrace “Damn you dog! I thought Chroias had slit my throat and my life’s blood was spilling onto my face! Ahhh well…. But you know, I think she rather likes me! After all we do seem to share a hobby.” Anubis cocked his head to one side questionly. “Making Mozenrath uncomfortable of course!” as if on cue Mozenrath entered the room. He looked like he had been sneaking around as he closed the door quietly behind him.

            “There you are!.” He whispered. “No don’t say anything, I have to make this quick.” She silenced her and crouched by the couch. “I want you to be alert and well armed for the next few days.”

“Are you saying you want me to hurt your girlfriend?” Nef breathed in sarcastic disbelief.

            “No, but if the need arises (he winced as her remembered what had happened the last time he had said that) … if something happens, I want you to be prepared. If nothing but to show her your not to be pushed around easily. I doubt you could seriously hurt her anyways”

            “Uh huh.” Nefret picked up the book again with disinterest. But Mozenrath grabbed her wrist and wheeled her around to face him.

            “Do you know how much magic I gave up just to secure your position as my assistant?!” He let his voice rise, forgetting in his anger he was trying not to draw attention. “Sometimes I wonder if it was a wise decision.” Mozenrath reverted to a hissing whisper.

            “Oh you know it was! After all, who would organize your despicable lab, look up spells and make sure thing run well while your gone?  You’ve gotten so used to my help the Citadel would probably crumble and burn if I left! And need I remind you who it was that discovered the secret of the sharks tooth?” she poked said item through his clothing.

            “My point exactly! You have been valuable in the past, and I want you to be so again in the future!” Mozenrath released her wrist in disgust and patted to the door.

            “Uh huh.” Nefret let slip. Moze whirled around to glare at her

“I don’t want to lose you Nef!” He hissed vilely, but there was sincerity in the statement. Nefret realized she might have taken her sarcastic tongue to far.

 “Yes my lord. I promise. I do!” She added with a small smile. Mozenrath let out a little sigh of relief and smiled back.

            It was rather late at night when Chroias left her chamber and headed down the hall. She stopped at an unknown chamber door and listened.  A honey voice resonated in her ears. Nefret. Chroias cautiously cranked open the door and peer inside. Nef sat cross-legged on the bed, her back to the door. She was singing sweetly to herself as she copied something from a book onto a clean sheet of paper.

            “I am lonely like the moon you are away as the earth now you say I light your thoughts night after night Soon you forget.” Nefret sang to herself. Chroias saw a golden opportunity. Without a sound she crept behind the girl who didn’t seem to notice. “We are drifting in this dance, I can feel you circle my heart, keeping such a graceful distance.” Chroias raised a hand ready to scare the living daylights out of Mozenrath’s assistant. “Unlike the demon that is sneaking up behind me!” Nefret finished her song. Chroias froze, how did she know? It was then she was a highly polished bronze statue of Hathor on the bedside table, and in it her reflection. Nefret looked at the statue and waved at Chroias’s  image, the demoness waved back grinning.

            “Clever.”  The red-eyed woman commented as she sat on the bed and took the paper Nefret had been writing. It was some kind of special fire spell. “Than again, I shouldn’t be surprised. You would have been out on your cute little kester long ago if you hadn’t proved yourself useful.”

            “Ha, it’s come close a few times. I swear that man will be the death of me one day! He may just kill me for not getting this spell to him sooner!” Nefret took back the paper and stood up smoothing her simple linen night slip.

“And why haven’t you little assistant?”

“I’ve been busy preparing that.” She pointed to the corner where a large gold and bronze crossbow leaned against the wall. “We are going to Agrabah tomorrow.”

“I thought this Aladdin was a hero. I know his type, they’d rather cut off there own arm than hurt an innocent.” Chroias inspected the weapon. It was heavy and highly polished its inner working in perfect order.

“Thanks to Mozenrath I’m no longer innocent.” She realized what those words implied only after they were said. “What I mean is… Aladdin considers me a good girl in a bad situation, however if I choose to follow Moze over him I become his enemy.”

“If?” Chroias inquired.

“No, there is no if. Mozenrath has let a few of my slips go by, just part of the breaking in process, but no more. Our deal is signed in blood. I have other reasons for the crossbow to. What were you going to do back there anyways?” Nef quickly changed the subject.

            “Just scare you a little! Honest I wouldn’t hurt you.” Nefret turned to her skeptically. “Besides we do share a hobby.” She reminded with a grin.

            “Sneak.” Nefret scolded playfully. “So, do we have an understanding? No bloodshed till we know what we think of one another? ” The servant inquired thrusting out her hand. Chroias grinned and extended her own hand, but pulled it back before Nefret could grab it.

            “But understand I reserve the right to withdraw under extreme circumstances.”

            “I would expect nothing less!” Nef retorted before they shook.

            “For gods sake Nefret haven’t you gotten that spell yet?!” Mozenrath burst into the room. His face faulted as he saw the two women sitting on the bed leafing through the book.

            “Do you make it a habit to burst into a young lady’s room without warning?” Chroias made a point to bear her fangs as she spoke.

            “Uh. Well……” he looked around tensely.

            “In fact he has gotten a little to used to it.” Nefret looked at Mozenrath mischievously.

            “Well.. I’m lord to this Kingdome! I shall go where I wish when I wish!!” Mozenrath took a proud stance.

            “Maybe I should teach you a lesson.” Chroias pulled out her whip and cracked it above her head. Mozenrath’s eyes went wide.

            “Oh Gods! The forces have united!!!!!!” He hollered before hastily exiting the room, forgetting the spell he had wanted. Xerxes followed with a hiss, he had been hoping Chroias would fix it so he would be the soul minion of his master, but that hope was circling the drain. The girls looked at each other and laughed knowing what the other was thinking. ‘Poor Moze, he didn’t stand a chance in hell now!’

Chapter 5 (by Kalynn)
        Chroias yawned. Her body took on a cat like posture as she stretched out in her bed. 'At least he had the decency to get the sheets turned down for me.' She thought as she pushed herself out of bed. Chroias hated getting up this early, but they were going to visit Agrabah today and wanted to look her best. She had every intention of making her Mozenrath look good in front of this....hero.

Just as she was slipping off her nightgown, the aforementioned walked in. "Mozenrath!" She screamed and pulled out a whip. "What did I say last night about walking in on a Lady's bedroom?" Mozenrath stopped just short of a withering comment as to the demonesses lady hood.

"I know what you said....but I didn't think you'd mind an early morning visit." He gave a charming smile and on of the rougesh winks he was so well known for. Chroias giggled despite herself.

"I thought you were going to take me to see Agrabah." She said as the sorcerer swooped her up.

"We have all day." Mozenrath answered in retort.

"Nefret is waiting downstairs." Chroias said desperate now for an excuse.

"Let her wait."

Nefret munched on a fig down at the dinning room table. What was taking those two so bloody long was beyond her. Well actually it wasn't but she had decided not to pursue the subject. Xerxes was off in a corner humming a nonsense song about how master’s girlfriend was going to put Nefret's head on a spike. Nefret cast the eel an angry glare and ignored him. Without thinking she slammed the fig down on the table and caused her entire top to become stained in the juice.

"Oh that's gonna leave such a stain!" Nefret looked up at Chroias. She almost blanched at the extremely reviling out fit that the green haired demon had on. A dark emerald green tube top had long sleeves with a fighting style support to it. She had a short black skirt obviously made that way to allow movement. But the boots were the thing that really got her. They traveled all the way up to the hip and seemed to be made of shiny leather. The only thought in Nefret’s head was 'How can she walk in those heels?' he demoness grinned. "You like? It's my fav outfit." Her whip was curled at her side and the short dagger she owned was on her boot. Mozenrath strode in behind her. The oddly pleased look on his face told Nefret exactly why the two had been late.

"So are we ready to go?" He questioned in an almost cheerful voice.

"I'm ready." Chroias cooed in an almost child like fashion.

"Yah I'm ready too if anyone cares." Nefret made a large attempt not to giggle at the way Mozenrath was trying not to look at his girlfriends.....bare essentials. The sorcerer suddenly seemed to realize she was there.

"Who said you were coming?" He questioned.

"Awwww Mozie let her come." Chroias toyed with a curled lock of his hair. "It would make me really happy."  Nefret had never seen Mozenrath look so completely at another person’s mercy.

"Well I suppose if YOU watch her." He managed to mumble out before she kissed him. Xerxes made a hoarse gagging sound in the corner.

"But we are so not taking the eel." Chroias growled and hissed at the gray blob.

"Once again I agree with her." Nefret walked up. "So are we going or what?"

"As soon as I do one thing." Chroias said. She looked pointedly at Nefret.

"Do what?" Nefret said hopping desperately that the demon would remember the deal they had made last night.

Chroias pointed at the blouse and mumbled a short phrase. A stream of green sparks shot out and blasted on Nefret's blouse. The purple fig stain dissolved. "Ok now I'm ready."

        "Hey Than.....!" Nefret never got to finish the sentence as the blue-black flame enveloped them.

Chapter 6 (by Me)
        Mozenrath turned to Chroias as she held up a rather expensive looking necklace to her chest, he nodded in approval an flipped a small coin purse to the marketplace vender. Chroias beamed happily, she had him wrapped around her little finger! On the adjacent booth Mozenrath noticed a small amulet of Hathor lying among the merchandise.

            “Hey Nefret look what……..” But his words died as he looked around and saw that only Chroias was behind him. “Chroias, dear, weren’t you supposed to look after Nefret?” She nodded in the affirmative. “Than where is she?” He asked slowly. The demon looked around as if shocked then remembered.

            “Oh yeah, she left a while ago, had things to do I guess.” She bit her nail childishly as Mozenrath’s eyes grew wide with either anger or concern, it was hard to tell. “Well really Mozy assigning me to ‘look after’ her as if she was a child. The girl can handle her own!”

            “I have no doubt of that, I just wonder can I handle it!” He sighed and headed to where she would most likely be.

         It was musty and rather dirty in the Skull and Dagger. Thieves and cutthroats crowded the tables and bar stools. The door lay in a smoldering heap on the floor, that was the last time someone would ask Mozenrath for a password! It didn’t take long for Mozenrath to find his assistant, a crowd had gathered around a small table in the back. They yelled and applauded rowdily. Moze fought through the crowd and took a seat at the table, Nefret smiled at him sweetly over her hand of cards.

            “Good afternoon my lord!” Nef sorted her hand and returned her attention to her not so happy looking opponent. Chroias took note of two piles of coins on the table, one significantly larger then the other.

            “Uh, Nefret dear, which are your winnings?” she demoness pointing to the small fortune.

            “That one.” Nefret idly indicated the bigger pile. This brought a smile to the red-eyed woman’s face as she pulled out her coin purse to bet on her boyfriend’s servant. Mozenrath stopped her with an annoyed growl.

            “How did you get in without the password?” Mozenrath asked his minion. Nefret turned to him slyly.

            “There called boobs Moze.” Nef said seriously. Mozenrath paled to an ungodly shade of white as she and Chroias burst into laughter. “No just kidding! Amin Damoola gave me the password when you hired him that one time.”

            Coins spilled everywhere as Nefret desperately tried to stuff them into her bag while Mozenrath dragged her to the door by the wrist. Chroias trotted after them, but had the piece of mind to grab what she could off the table.

            “What in Hades were you thinking? The people who frequent these sorts of places would think nothing displaying you head the mantel of whatever god-forsaken place they call home! You really must have a death wish!” Mozenrath grumbled barley audible.

            “Oh now, my love, its not all that bad! She’s packing heat!” Chroias pointed to the crossbow slung over her shoulder. “And you know she would have won the next hand, that is if you’d let her. That would have been another 300 denary right there! Come on, let’s at least have a drink!” Mozenrath released Nef’s arm and stormed to a table leaving the two women behind “Tell me, how does the daughter of a scribe and a noble woman who became a priestess somehow manage to fall in with all the bad crowds?” Chroias inquired. As they walked calmly to the table Moze had selected.

            “It’s a curse! A rather profitable curse!” she held up her purse pleased with the weight of it. Chroias smiled, despite everything she was finding herself liking the girl more and more.  “Besides, you keep bad company, you attract bad company!” Nefret sited as she plunked into a chair gratefully excepting the wine and bread that was brought to them. Mozenrath tore in the bread with a vengeance, seeing his anger Chroias tapped her foot over his under the table. Moze rolled his eyes to the demoness. He soften a bit and she smiled, but their moment was broken as something heavy was thrown onto the table near Mozenrath. He looked up at Nefret who was beaming proudly. Cautiously her unwrapped the bundle to reveal something he had only seen in books. The fire eye of Sekmet! An amulet of some unknown red stone and the only missing element to that special fire spell he had been working on. “I tracked it all through Agrabah, finally finding out it had been stolen. I figured most anything stolen ends up here one way or another. I won it in the card game that you were so against.” Nef added the last for an extra guilt trip. The corners of Mozenrath mouth twitched a bit.

            “This doesn’t make up for sneaking off and disobeying me.” He fired lamely.

            “No? Than I went though all the trouble and discomfort for nothing, not even a thank you?” Nefret sat back in her chair and Chroias could see the disappointment in her eyes.

            “You managed to line your pockets in the process, is that not thanks enough?” Mozenrath retorted.

            “Most of the money will go to pay my debts to all the people I bribed for information today. I’ll be lucky if I’m able to buy bandages for my blistered feet.” She sighed. Mozenrath looked at Chroias who gave him a knowing face.

            “I don’t approve of you methods of sneaking off, disobeying me and putting yourself in danger, but…. You got the job done by and by. You did well.” Mozenrath blurted out to get it over with. Nefret let out a satisfied sigh and headed to the bar for another loaf of bread, Mozenrath having pulverized the first. Chroias tugged playfully at a stray lock of her lover’s hair.

            “Now was that so hard?” she whispered in his ear.

            “Why do you care? You were ready to take off her head before! She’s not a very good servant ya know, always finding loopholes in my orders, disobeying me, and talking back! She just can’t be broken!”  He brought his cup down a little to hard.

            “Would you want to break her? Do you really need another brainless lackey? You already have Xerxes to fill that position. She possesses a spirit to wild to be conquered by you, that’s why you’re mad. And I suppose that’s why I like her.”

            Aladdin looked around the slum of a tavern. Out of the corner of his eye he caught a glimpse of a plum colored head. He only knew of one person with tresses like that! He had only been there to track down a very important artifact that was reported missing, but it appeared he had stumbled unto a larger problem. Agrabah hero watched as Nefret returned to her table. As expected Mozenrath was there, he never let Nefret out by herself, but so was another woman. Al slowly made his way to the table trying to look inconspicuous in his face veil and hood. He couldn’t make out was being said between Nefret and the strange green-haired woman, but he could see what Mozenrath was lovingly inspecting. The fire Eye of Sekmet, the same artifact Al had been hunting down!

            A small piece of blue cloth was slammed on the group’s table and everyone looked up at the unveiled culprit.

            “Hello there Mozenrath. You should have told you were in town!” Aladdin joked enigmatically. He looked at the ladies. “Is it just me or do you have a thing for women with odd colored hair?”

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