Columbine

“Please sit down.” Asmodeus told me, suddenly heaving the heavy green curtain to the side, letting the growing morning light flow freely into the room. His face was suddenly illuminated, and I couldn’t help but shudder.

“We have much to discuss, you and I.” He said, seating himself behind Maximillion Greenley’s polished desk.

“What in the hell do you want with me?” I asked hoarsely, forgetting the “no profanity” rule entirely. As it turned out, that rule was absolutely useless, because there was no reaction.

I fell into the chair, rather than sat down. Somehow despite everything I had been through, I could not believe one of the most powerful, dangerous, evil beings in the world was sitting a mere desk’s distance away from me.

“I’ll admit, you are unusual.” Asmodeus said. “The idiots that work here all say that they feel nothing out of the ordinary from you. Because I can feel it. It is coming off of you in waves.”

I had no clue what he was talking about. I didn’t want to. I would have readily jumped out the window to get away, but all the energy seemed to have leaked out of me from the moment I’d stepped into the room. Was this just a side effect of being near something so powerful and evil?

“But I am sure you have plenty of people flattering you already. I am here to discuss other matters.” Asmodeus said.

Something small and timid gurgled up in me, and I spoke.

“What other matters?” I asked, grasping the arms of the chair I was sitting in so hard, it felt that they might snap at any moment.

“You are sufficiently sensible, are you not?” Asmodeus grinned. “Why do you think I am here?”

I didn’t know.

“Is there no one you know, no one who has made advances to you, who is not connected to me in the most direct of ways?” He asked, his grin still growing.

“Valentin.” I said quietly.

“Correct, you are!” Asmodeus clapped his hands together. “What a nice, clever head you have on your shoulders.”

“Is he in trouble?” I dared to ask. Asmodeus paused.

“That is entirely up to him.” He shrugged.

“What the hell do you mean by that?” I snapped before I could stop myself.

Asmodeus reclined backwards into his chair and folded his hands in his lap.

“In my perspective,” he said, “he is not in the least bit of peril. I am sure there are those who would disagree.”

“You’re not answering the question.” I spoke as softly as possible.

Asmodeus looked at me, and I swallowed. It became more and more of a mystery to me how anyone could have been comfortable enough, let alone willing, to sleep with him. Valentin was proof enough that someone obviously had. Someone much better suited for parenthood than Asmodeus, if he’d turned out nothing like the man sitting in front of me.

“I will make you a deal.” His face suddenly lit up. “You will answer my questions -- truthfully -- before I answer yours in the same manner.”

“What questions?” I asked.

“You will find out if you accept my offer.” Asmodeus smiled.

I thought it over for all of two seconds before reluctantly nodding my head. Asmodeus’ smile widened and he clapped his hands in triumph.

“You do not know much about demon lords, do you, Miss Wells?” He asked.

“Why?” I blinked, trying to ignore the cold sweat that was accumulating underneath the fabric of my tattered dress.

“Otherwise you would have known that when you promise to tell the truth to me, you will do it regardless of your original intentions.” He said. “In other words, you cannot lie to me now. Nor can I lie to you.”

I was angry and scared all at once. More than anything, I remained terrified of what would happen if I didn’t go along with Asmodeus’ scheme.

“My questions first.” He said, and cleared his throat. “Do you enjoy my son?”

For a moment, I was confused. It was almost like he spoke in some sort of blend of medieval and Victorian English. But the question still made an odd sort of sense, if I pretended that it was the delusional sentence structure of a four-year old.

“Sometimes.” I choked out. “Not so much before, but he’s been very, um…enjoyable lately.”

Asmodeus nodded, as if carefully absorbing the information on word at a time. I didn’t like not having full control of what I was saying. Everything that Asmodeus had asked of me, I had done despite all common sense. It was as if I was truly compelled to follow through on his commands.

“In what way do you think of him?” He asked. It felt as if something gave my mind a jarring push in the direction he wanted, because I didn’t even wait to answer, let alone think of some way to dilute the truth.

“Sarah and Scarlett are convinced he loves me.” I blurted. “I don’t see how or why, but I think I might start feeling the same way if I’m not careful.”

I felt my face turn a deep shade of red. The mortification was so big, I wished I’d somehow vanish from the room. The embarrassment was almost painful to bear.

“Does he frighten you?” Asmodeus asked.

“He used to.” I said. “I think I’ve gotten used to him lately.”

“How endearing.” Asmodeus smiled.

“Just stop it!” I finally yelped. “I don’t want you in my head!”

He frowned. For the first time since I’d met him, he looked as though he might actually be upset. I felt my pulse nearly freeze in my veins for all the fear pumping through me.

“But we have a contract, Miss Wells.” He said. “Extend me this courtesy, and I will do the same justice to you.”

“Only if you stop screwing with my mind.” I said, my lips trembling uncontrollably.

“I cannot control that, and for that I offer my sincere apologies.” He smoothed his tie, which was already as flat as a plane of glass over his suit.

“How can you not control that?” I stammered.

“Can you control your own heartbeat, Miss Wells?” Asmodeus asked. “In the same way, I cannot control that which comes naturally to me.”

I swallowed yet again. In all my life, I had never gone through something so utterly excruciating. It was like having teeth pulled out one at a time. That is, if the teeth were answers and the pliers were questions, not to mention Asmodeus as the dentist.

“How many more questions do I have to answer?” I asked.

“Just one.” Asmodeus assured me.

I took a deep breath, preparing myself for the next nauseating feeling of something controlling my mind, making the truth spill out of me like precious organs that I could never grow back.

“Does my son appear happy to you?” Asmodeus asked.

For a moment, I was confused. What the hell kind of a question was that? Even with whatever Asmodeus was unconsciously doing to my mind, I had to think about the answer before I was helpless against the current that forced it from my lips.

“Sometimes.” I said.

I couldn’t help but think about the question a bit longer, even after I’d answered it. I tried to recall the times I’d seen Valentin smile. There weren’t many. There were a select few times when I’d been in the kitchen, eating food straight from his diner-trained hands, when he’d laughed or grinned into his coffee cup. I hadn’t thought much of his happiness when I’d had so many of my own problems to worry about. Why was I thinking about it even now, when the biggest problem of all was sitting directly in front of me?

“Thank you. That is all I require of you, Miss Wells.” Asmodeus said. “I believe it is your turn.”

I was at a loss. What do you ask the most powerful demon lord in the world? Was there even anything he could tell me that I needed to know, or even wanted to know? There was only one thing I could think of -- the question I’d asked him almost as soon he’d brought Valentin up into the conversation.

“What’s going to happen to him?” I asked, not needing to specify who it was that I meant.

“He will be reprimanded for his disobedience.” Asmodeus admitted.

“How?” I probed.

“He will face the challenge that has been set before him. He is contractually immune to execution and imprisonment, therefore he will earn his release.”Asmodeus said.

“What’s his challenge?” I probed further.

“Come now, Miss Wells.” He chuckled eerily. “This is the Demataxt. What do you think his challenge is?”

I was about to ask the question again, but Asmodeus answered it before I could open my mouth.

“He will fight to the death with one of my soldiers.” He said.

“W-what?” I stammered.

“Do not worry, Miss Wells. I am convinced my son will win.” Asmodeus said. “Indeed, the question of his ability is not the reason I have personally chosen this particular challenge for him.”

“Then why?” I asked.

“You are aware that he is half demon.” Asmodeus said. “But have you seen him displaying any part of his demon half? I do not believe that you have.”

“So you’re just going to push him over the edge?” I stammered. “You want him to turn into a monster?”

Everything Damien had told me in the cellar came back in striking detail. He’d told me that it was almost impossible for half demons to revert back after slipping. What if Valentin would slip? What if he turned into someone unrecognizable? I thought about the demon who had led the raid on the Blood Bank and shuddered.

No matter how well-dressed and groomed Asmodeus might be, he was still a monster. It became painfully clear to me why Valentin never talked about his father, or even his mother. What person could bear being the offspring of a monster?

I could barely believe what an idiot I had been. If I’d just been friendly with Valentin, if I’d just spared him all of my bullshit, maybe he’d have just a slightly bigger chance of staying human. Now he ran the risk of becoming a monster, and it was partly my fault.

“My dear Miss Wells, have I upset you?” Asmodeus asked.

I wished I had the courage to attack him.

“Just let me out of here.” I murmured, not particularly wanting to be heard.

“Not just yet.” Asmodeus said.

“What else could you possibly want?” I asked, sorrow heavy in my voice.

“Come to the window and I will show you.” He said, going to the window. I followed suit, my legs trembling beneath me.

“What?” I asked.

“Look down.” Asmodeus told me. I looked down.

I could barely contain my surprise when I saw a mob gathered for what seemed like miles around the building. From the window, they were all tiny, but I knew that the crowd down below had to be enormous.

“There is a storm coming, Miss Wells.” Asmodeus said. “I should not think it will be long before it reaches a climax.”

“How did I not hear them before?” I asked, genuinely shocked that the screams coming from below had not reached my ears before Asmodeus had bothered pointing them out to me.

“I am afraid I have that effect, as well.” He apologized. “My presence tends to confuse most humans.”

“How long have they been there?” I asked.
“Two hours, perhaps more.” Asmodeus said. “They are here because of you.”

I couldn’t stop looking down. The crowd seemed to consist of almost every citizen in Cairo. They were gathered around the building, writhing in fury, almost gyrating like people would do in the Blood Bank. Had I truly caused this? No, it wasn’t really me. It was the idea of me, with the added bonus of the Blood Bank. If I’d been one of the people dancing to the music, I might have decided to join the mob, too. But instead I was here.

“They know who you are.” Asmodeus interrupted my thoughts. “You are the catalyst that they were waiting for.”

Catalyst. I was a catalyst.

My head was spinning all over again, but this time Asmodeus had nothing to do with it. It was all because of the mob gathered down below. They didn’t seem to have any kind of chant. They were just screaming their protests in general.

“They will not be able to breach the barrier around this building.” Asmodeus informed me. “That is, not for another hour. Mages are famous for believing that they are the only ones who have power. When these humans break their barrier, they will be in for a most unwelcome surprise.”

Asmodeus had a smile on his face. He looked almost exactly like a kid at Christmas.

“You should prepare to evacuate, Miss Wells.” He said once he had snapped out of his reverie. “This building will not be safe for long.”

I felt the same dizziness I’d felt when I’d entered the room, and found myself falling. I flailed my arms, but found nothing to grab hold of. I hit the floor and felt a fresh blossom of pain bloom in my skull.

“Ow!” I cried, clutching my stomach, feeling as though I might puke all over myself. I probably would have, had I eaten anything in the last twelve hours. All I managed to do was gag. When I looked up, the room was empty, Asmodeus nowhere in sight.

The door to the office was flung open, and Maximillion Greenley rushed inside. He looked like someone had kicked him in the gut.

“What did he say?” He asked hurriedly.

“Huh?” I asked dumbly, clumsily getting on my feet, which wobbled threateningly beneath me.

“Answer me, you slow girl! What did Asmodeus say to you?” Maximillion Greenley snapped, grabbing my arm and pulling me out of his office.

“He asked me how Valentin was doing.” I stammered, still feeling sick.

“Is that it?” Maximillion Greenley snapped. “Did he say anything else?”

“He said the building wasn’t safe.” I added.

Maximillion Greenley let out a bark of laughter.

“Well, obviously the building isn’t safe, you dolt!” He snapped. “I can see that just by looking out the window! Was there nothing else he said to you? Maybe something useful?”

“Not really.” I said.

Maximillion Greenley’s grip on my arm tightened angrily.

“I’m taking you back to the clinic.” He said. “You stay there until you hear otherwise.”

I began to worry about whether or not Damien and his friends were even planning on rescuing us. What if there was no plan at all? What if the situation was simply too hopeless to get out of?

The only other alternative I could see to getting rescued was getting caught in the crossfire between the approaching mob and the Demataxt agents. Of all the many interesting ways to die that the world had to offer, that was definitely toward the bottom of my list.