Alester, Leo, and Brit waited on the other side of the door across the hall. The hallway perfectly resemble that of the apartment building, and Alester connected it to Simon’s front door. This would allow her to knock and be invited in. In addition, it would prevent unwelcome guest from intruding upon the encounter. So Cleo knocked, and was soon received by the short, somewhat portly, unassuming older man named Simon Latimorr. He wore glasses, a strong enough prescription to warp the appearance of his eyes through the lenses. His hair was thinning, and he was probably at least 40. Otherwise, he seemed harmless enough. Cleo had been instructed to get inside, and keep an eye out for anything which appeared to be an antique, something that might have been used as a vessel to seal a Jinn. This was easier said than done, since she had never had much trouble getting people to do what she wanted. Her only real experience manipulating men had been as a waitress, and mostly it had been an exercise in observation, watching the lengths the other waitresses would go through to keep their customers favor while she was nearby. “Could you possibly help me sir?” she asked. “I just need to use your phone, I’d be more than happy to pay you. I’m just kinda stuck right now, and you’re the only one who bothered to answer the door.”

“Who are you? How did you get in here?” Simon asked.

“I opened the door? My name is Cleopatra, believe it or not,” She replied, hoping to keep the conversation focused on who she was and what she needed. “I just need a little help, and maybe a place to wait for a bit. Would you mind helping me out?” she asked, as she attempted to step inside. Actually, it wasn’t unusual for guest to try and invite themselves in, so Simon didn’t make much of it. But if he had to put up with it, he would at least make the most of it. Because even without her power, Cleo was far from an unattractive girl, there was something about her that made people take a second look, even from afar. something exotic in her appearance.

“You said you need a phone, was that right?” Simon confirmed.

“Yes, if you’d please,” said Cleo. Then Simon handed her a phone.

“Can I get you something to drink? Tea, perhaps? I might have some Coffee?” Simon asked.

“Tea is fine, thank you,” Cleo answered, as she looked around. She called a number she knew would go unanswered. She shook her head in disappointment as she feigned frustration. “You wouldn’t mind if I tried again in a few minutes, would you? They may just be too busy to get to the phone just now.” She continued to scan the apartment, but almost everything she saw was brand new.

“I don’t see why not.” Simon replied, as he brought her the tea. Simon felt more at ease with her than he had with anyone for a long time. Though he didn’t really notice that it was her doing, rather he felt as if he was finally in control of his life again, to the point that he could entertain new people without freaking out. He felt so good about his accomplishment he decided to bask in it. “There’s really no reason for you to rush off,” he said. This was something he would not have said before now, he imagined. But in fact, it was probably something he would not have said to anyone other than Cleo. “Please take your time, and make contact with your friend. I actually haven’t had anyone I could really talk to in a while.”

“Sure, it looks like you must be a busy man, to afford all this nice stuff.” Cleo prodded him, hoping he would start to talk about himself.

“You would think, but no,” he responded, as if he was think how he might explain it. “I guess you could say I finally came into a run of good fortune.”

Cleo continued to prod, occasionally divulging tidbits of her old life to sate his curiosity about her. But always she returned the conversation to Simon, and each time he found away to answer her without supplying many telling details. Simon continued to dance around her question in this way for almost an hour. During this time, she had two cups of tea, and asked after the restroom to get a chance to look around. She’d made it a point to touch and wonder at Simon’s new things on her way there and back. though she was really exploring the room for hidden relics of any kind. Finally, after requesting a third cup of tea, she’d called a working number. On the other end of which was Ace. She pretended to ask him for a ride, and gave Simon an excited smile, to indicate that everything had worked out. “I have to head down the street, to meet my friend. But thank you so much for your help. Maybe I’ll visit sometime, if you don’t mind,” Cleo suggested, mostly to see what he would say.

This had been the way Simon expected this encounter to end, so it came as no surprise, even if Cleo’s reasons had nothing to do with why his other guests had always said similar things. “Of course, I would be delighted if you did,” Simon assured her. After all, he didn’t believe he had learned as much as he’d have liked about the young woman.Cleo departed from the apartment and headed down the hall a ways. Alester had made sure all the doors led back to the Sanctuary. She returned home, to her new family, and they discussed her encounter with Simon.

There had been no sign that he was a demon, at least not that Cleo could tell, and their seemed to be no vessel or relic of any kind. Of course, this did not mean Simon wasn’t simply taking care to safeguard such an object. But Cleo found it most peculiar that Simon did not seem particularly affected by her power, at least not in the way that she was accustomed to. In her mind, he had to have an ability of some kind. something that allowed him to influence or command others. Alester agreed of course.