Elijah grins at me, lounging on my bed as if it is his own. “How have you been this past year, my dear little human?” He says, sitting up as I just stand and stare at him evenly, trying my best to ensure he doesn't sense the fear pounding through my veins, the smell of terror that must be emanating from me in strong waves, the beat of my heart increasing like someone banging against a drum.

“I thought I warned you about what you and your Master could lose last time you came down here. Before I lose my temper, you had best crawl back to the dark hole you came from. Leave now.” I say, thankful my voice sounds more courageous than I am feeling inside.

Elijah raises an eyebrow, “You have got nerve, but let me tell you one thing. The Master's daughter is no longer alive. He killed her. He is crazy. He killed His own daughter so He wouldn't be vulnerable.”

I gasp and then shake my head, “No, he wouldn't do that. He... his daughter means a lot to him. He wouldn't kill her.”

“You don't know Him!” Elijah roars at me, making me cringe back, “He will do anything to appear all-powerful! You defeated him and ever since, He's become a lunatic!”

I stare at him, “Elijah, leave before Rhys comes. The past times you have been in my room have not ended pleasantly for you.”

“Don't you get what I'm saying?!” Elijah exclaims, “He wants another battle and this one will be worse.”

“Why are you telling me this?” I ask, “You're his messenger, his little wingman.” No pun intended, what with Elijah being an angel. “Because I am worried. I might loathe Rhys now, but I don't want him to die. I don't want you to die. You need to run.”

“I can't run, Elijah!” I tell him, “I have my family, my friends, my whole life here. We won last time, we'll win this time around too. I think you should go.”

“Are you feeling attracted to Rhys, in more intense ways than before?” Elijah carries on undeterred. I stare at him, my insides going cold. He nods just as if I had answered, “It's Him doing that to you. He has some sort of warlock working spells on you. If He finds out I was here, I'm dead. I'm risking my life by coming down here. You have to go to Rhys and ensure your safety some way or another. The Master won't back down.”

“Elijah, I don't know why you suddenly decide to have some humanity now, but I can't risk everything I have with Rhys on a whim. Has he discussed this battle with you?” I question him, going past him and sitting on my bed.

Elijah nods, “Yes. A few times. He keeps saying He has something big planned, something no one will see coming. Something that will ensure your defeat. That is why I'm saying, you have to hide. He's not all-powerful, even I can see the holes in His armour. But He is dangerous.”

I look at him, “I'll run it by Rhys.”

Elijah nods, “Even though it doesn't seem like it, I do care.”

Then with a flash of wings, he's gone. I shudder at the sudden gust of wind and pick up my jacket with a stony resolve, thudding down the stairs and out the door.

“Rhys, I actually believe him.” I say as Rhys looks at the table in front of him, “I've never seen Elijah like this before and I trust he's telling the truth.”

“Since when can you trust Elijah?” Rhys bursts, “He's tried to force you into kissing him, he's pulled a knife on you, he's threatened your life. How can you suddenly believe him?”

“Because I just can.” I justify, “Rhys, I can tell when he's lying and when he's not. Trust me on this. He was telling the truth. He means well, for once. The Master wants another battle. He isn't used to losing.”

“I know!” Rhys roars, standing up, “I was his slave for ninety years! I know way more about the old guy than you think, Donna. You can't just storm in here and demand we run away to escape someone's wrath!”

“I didn't demand anything, Rhys!” I say, standing up and facing him, “Why don't you believe me? I ask for that much. That as your girlfriend, you trust me! You believe in me! I truly trust that the Master has something up his dirty little sleeve, like he did last time!”

“You're delusional, you know that?” Rhys screams at me angrily, “You'll believe anything anybody says!! Stop being so gullible and wake up to the real world.”

“What's wrong with you?” I screech back, “Why are you treating me like this? This isn't the 1900s that you can behave with me any way you want and I'll bend over backwards for you, no matter what! This is the twenty-first century and I won't stand for it!”

“Then why don't you take a seat?” Rhys says sarcastically, “You have to stop being so naïve, Donna! Just because Elijah said it and he seemed remorseful, doesn't mean it's true!”

“But what if it is?!” I point out, glaring at the stranger who had become my boyfriend. “Well, I guess we'll all be in deep sh-”

“Shut up, Rhys! Just stop it!” I shriek, “I don't know why I came to you! You're so patronizing!”

“Oh, I'm patronizing? Have you ever heard yourself talk, Donna? I try to make you understand something and you turn on me instead!”

“I turned on you? I did? I didn't turn on you, Rhys, I turned to you! For no good reason, apparently!” I walk out of the Tower, slamming the door shut behind me. Abandoned, I walk all the way home in the lashing rain, the drops on my face concealing the tears. Instead of going inside when I get home, I lay on the bench in the backyard, letting the rain pelt me until Mom drags me in, shouting and screaming at me for being so stupid.

When she gets me in the house, I pull away from her and run up to my room, fury cutting through me like a sharpened blade. I pull the duvet off the bed, stomping on it and then sweeping my things off my dresser on to my floor. I grab a vase and throw it at the mirror, shattering them both beyond recognition. I pick up my birthday card from Rhys and rip it in two before throwing it out the window. I yell out and open the drawers of my dresser, spilling the contents on the floor. My anger still not appeased, I stride over to my wardrobe and rip all of my clothes out and littering them all over the room.

I cry out again and go over to the baseball bat I won at a local fair, picking it up and bashing it against the window ledge until the bat splinters and a small crack appears in the window. Then I throw the useless bat to one side and curl up on my bed, starting to wail now my destructive energy has wasted.

There's a tentative knock on the door and then Mom and Dad walk in, assessing the damage to my room. Mom walks over to me and sits down, stroking my hair, “Have you got it out of your system?”

I nod in response.

“What's wrong, honey?” Dad asks as he sits down on the other side, brushing bits of glass off the bed. I look at him tearfully, “I had an argument with Rhys, Daddy. And he called me gullible and naïve and stupid and he patronized me.”

Mom and Dad look at each other over the top of my head. Mom sighs, “Honey, when you have a lasting relationship, arguments aren't rare. They're actually very common and they increase the love. You're arguing because you care about each other and no matter what he says, I know he loves you.”

“But no one gets away with hurting my daughter.” Dad's eyes darken. Mom gives him a very pointed look, “Rob, they can sort it out between themselves. Give Donna a little independence. You have all the space you need, honey. When you need me, just call out. We're always here for you.”

I nod silently, tears streaming down my cheek as my heart aches with every beat. Mom and Dad creep out of the room.

                                                                                                        ***

Three hours later, I'm sitting in the main room, a blanket around my waist with tears racing down my face as the Titanic credits roll down the TV screen. I wipe my tears and look towards my cell. 30 missed calls and 45 new messages. I know who they're from. They're all from Rhys with a new sob story about how sorry he is and how much he loves me.

I sigh and pick the phone up, deleting everything and then putting it back down after hesitating when I see mine and Rhys' picture on my cell wallpaper. I bring my knees up to my chest and embrace them, holding back the tears and rewinding the film back to the start. When Mom walks in half an hour later, as Rose' fiancée is smashing the table to the floor, she doesn't ask any questions, she just sits down next to me and enjoys the film as much as she can.