I woke up in a different location. There was light coming from a bulb that was dangling from the ceiling, but it was dim. The blub swayed slightly, making the shadows contort and twist in ways that made them seem alive. I was reclining in a chair of some sort. It reminded me of a dentists' chair, which was not a comforting thought. I always hated the dentist. I tried to move, but found that I was strapped to the chair. There was an IV tube sticking out of my arm. I could see a red liquid flowing through it. Blood. My blood. I turned my head from side to side, searching for Asmodeus. I couldn't see him, but he had to be close.

As? I didn't think it was safe to speak out loud. I didn't know where the vampires were, but I guessed they were nearby. 

Look who finally decided to wake up. There was a bite to his voice, but his response had been so quick that I knew he wasn't really upset.

Where are we? Is Alex okay? I asked.

If he managed to get out of the car, I imagine he's fine. As for where we are, I couldn't tell you. Some sort of abandoned building. I suppressed a delirious giggle. An abandoned building. How very on-brand. Asmodeus seemed to sense my dark amusement.

Something funny? he asked, that edge back in his voice.

Oh nothing, I said, biting my lip to keep the giggles in. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew it was because of the blood loss. At the rate my blood was being drained, I'd be dead within the hour. The giggles died. Why can't I see you? I asked, straining to turn my head in all directions at once.

I'm over in the corner, Asmodeus responded. Some of my normal sarcastic nature retured.

Funny thing about square rooms. They have four of those. I heard an annoyed huff from the corner to my right and peered into the darkness. If I focused all of my energy on seeing through the darkness, then I could just make out his figure, leaning against the wall. Why are you lurking over there? Come into the light. 

Do you think I hang out in dark corners for fun? I'm trapped. My mind was growing fuzzy. How could they have trapped him? He could change shape at will, and vampires couldn't use magic as far as I was aware. There's more than one day to trap a demon, he said in answer to my confused thoughts. It felt like someone had wrapped my brain in gauze and then soaked it in oil. I longed to close my eyes. I was just so tired. LUNA. Asmodeus's sharp voice brought me back. Great. Now my gauze-wrapped, oil-soaked brain also had a spear sticking out of it. Pro-tip: don't yell into someone's mind. It hurts. A lot. But I was also grateful. I had read somewhere that you shouldn't fall asleep when you're injured, especially when you're losing blood. Chances are, you wouldn't wake up again. At least Alex was okay.

Provided he didn't get trapped in that car. Provided hasn't bled out. 

Really? How is that helpful? I snapped. I glared into the corner again. If I strained my eyes, I could just barely see the glint of his eyes.

You want helpful? Why haven't you gotten us out of here yet? Use a spell? I mentally slapped myself. Of course.

I'll need the book. Open it and look through the spells. 

You haven't memorized a single useful spell yet? What is wrong with you? I could hear the impatience in his voice, which didn't make any sense, because he was speaking directly into my mind. 

Just do it. I heard shuffling coming from his corner and then I heard the turning of pages. For a while there was nothing but the sound of pages being turned. I felt my eyelids begin to droop again. So, so tired. Maybe just a quick nap. I'd need to conserve my strength for a spell right? I tried to open my eyes, but it was a losing battle. They slowly drifted closed, and I was powerless to stop them. 

LUNA. Dammit Luna open your eyes. Think about why we're here. Finding Lilith. Remember what she did to Luca. Remember. She killed him. You want revenge, but you'll only get that if you OPEN YOUR EYES. My eyes snapped open. I blinked a few times, getting my bearings back.

Did you find a spell that we can use? I asked. 

Yes, but it isn't in the book, and it won't require words. He sounded apprehensive, like he wasn't sure this was the best way to go about this.

Is that even possible? I asked.

Of course it is. Did you use words when you blasted Lilith? No. I remembered the wave of energy that had thrown her back. I guess I hadn't used words for that. 

Okay. But I don't think a wave of air is going to do much here. 

You're not understanding me. I'm going to teach you how to do elemental spells. Maybe it was my sluggish brain, but he wasn't making any sense. Elemental spells? I had a delirious thought about The Last Airbender. It caused a giggle to escape my lips. I was gonna be a bender. I'm not sure why I found that so hilarious, but at the time it just was. I realized my mistake almost immediately. Almost. The laugh died in my throat, but not before a small sound had gotten out. Asmodeus and I waited in tense silence. Nobody came in to the room. I let out a breath of relief. Turns out that was a little premature.

"Oh how nice. Our guest is awake." Michael stepped into the room through a doorway I hadn't noticed. I didn't respond. "Not feeling talkative? That's alright. He looked at the IV tube and then at me. It won't be long now. Don't worry. It will be painless. Relatively." I tried to think of some witty retort, but nothing would come. I just glared at him in silence.

Teach me now, while he's villain monologuing. I told Asmodeus. 

"Why am I here? There has to be a reason other than just random bad luck," I said aloud.

Villain monologuing? I fought the urge to roll my eyes. Of course that was the part of the sentence that stuck with him.

Not important.

"Funny thing. It really was just chance." Michael laughed a little bit. "We place an operative at that gas station every day and every night. The people that come through here--" I let him ramble, closing my eyes as I focused on the instructions I was getting from Asmodeus. 

Center yourself. Focus on your breathing. Nothing exists except you, me, and your breathing. Let yourself become numb. I tried to do what he was saying, but every time I tried, all I could focus on was the feeling of my strength leaving me. 

I can't. I responded after a minute of unsuccessful focus.

"It was a wonderful surprise when Emmaline realized just what we had caught--" Michael was still monologuing, completely oblivious to everything around him. Good thing too or he would have noticed that there were two heartbeats in the room. You might be thinking, well obviously. You and Asmodeus. Funny thing. Demons don't have heartbeats. 

"So it wasn't Lilith?" I asked, making sure he continued, but it was getting more and more difficult to force words out. 

"Lilith? I haven't heard that name in years. Azzy is your mummy back from hell? Is that why you're slumming it with the humans?" Asmodeus didn't deign to respond. I was hardly surprised since Michael had called him Azzy. He barely tolerated it when I called him As. Michael seemed to take the silence as a yes. "Oh that must be it." Michael laughed. "The great Asmodeus, prince of hell, up here with the commoners. Bet you never thought that'd be you huh Azzy." I wasn't even trying to read Asmodeus's mind, but I could feel his anger radiated outward. It was like nothing I had ever felt. It wasn't like what I'd imagined. It wasn't a raging fire. It was like dry ice. So cold it burned. It made me want to rip something to shreds, namely that filthy piece of scum. Vampires. What a pathetic use for demonic essence. I knew these thoughts were not my own, and yet they felt so real. 

As, control your thoughts. You're giving me a migraine and I have enough to worry about. I said. I looked over into his corner to find that I could see him almost perfectly. He was bathed in a red light. His eyes were glowing so brightly that I thought they might set the vampire on fire. I saw him glance to me, and then he did a double take. I wondered what was so surprising about finding me still here. Then I realized he wasn't actually looking at me. He was looking past me. I fought the urge to turn my head to find out what he was looking at. Michael was stalking towards me. 

"This is taking far too long. I'm sure we've saved enough blood for a while. Perhaps I shall just finish you off myself," he said, head cocked to the side in thought. My heartrate sped up considerably, but it wasn't at the threat. The thing that Asmodeus had been looking at finally came into view. Michael smiled at me, his fangs popping into place. "Scared? It'll be quick. I promise." He must have thought my heartbeat sped up because of fear. Unfortunately, that meant he was now concentrating on his hearing. He leaned down, his fangs bared, getting closer and closer to my neck. I tried to shy away from him, but I was still very much tied to the chair. Then, miraculously, Michael paused. He had a confused look on his face. He had finally noticed the two separate heartbeats. He hissed and stood up just in time to get stabbed in the back by a chair leg.  

Mwah ha ha. Nice little cliffhanger for you. I'm evil. I know. See you next week.

xoxo

-Sierra <3