Merlin half-turned and stepped backwards, his eyes trained on the lift doors, watching as the floor numbers went up and up. And Hecate wasn't finished.
He moved back behind the doorframe so he wouldn't be noticed immediately, and wished he'd brought his staff with him. A good solid thump on the head with a wooden staff was just about as effective as using magic. He had to help Hecate to finish off the devil's trap though, that was the vital part, or the demon was lost to them.
There was a soft ping, and the elevator doors slid open like silk, and Hermes stepped out. Or rather, "Hermes", for the real one was tucked up in hospital. He was looking at his phone, which was good, but he looked up just as he reached the threshold, which was bad.
The demon looked at Hecate, confused. "Hello. Did you say you were coming, sometimes-wife?" he asked. The hair was prickling on his neck. Something was off-
"Hermes old chum!" Merlin stepped forward, speaking loudly to draw attention, and it worked, for the demon looked at him in confusion instead. There weren't really any memories of being friends with this man, but he was being clapped on the back and Merlin was putting himself in the way of Hecate, preventing a good view of her. "It's been an age, hasn't it? I feel like I've hardly seen you!"
"Y-yes," Hermes said uncertainly, frowning. "Are you here at Peitho's invitation? You're the one who came asking after Luna's schedule, right?"
"Ah- haha, yes well," Merlin said quickly, hoping Hecate wasn't about to pick up on that too closely. "The less said- There might need to be adjustments made-"
"Peitho?" called Hermes, over top of Merlin's rambling. "Peitho!" Suspicion was growing by the minute. Behind his back, the salt cannister was silently drawing the final line of salt across the entrance, closing him in.