Amelia held her breath as the demon ran the rough handle of his whip under her chin, uncomfortably close to her throat. His eyes burned like blue fire, and his spread wings became a blackness that blocked what little light from the crescent moon filtered in through the curtains.

"Such a pretty little thing," the demon purred. "And I've been so bored with the underworld. Perhaps you could give me a little...entertainment. What do you say? Just one night?"

Amelia swallowed nervously. Sitting in her nightgown in front of this devil, there was a distinct danger, yet there was something about him that felt vaguely familiar. That sense was enough to stay her hand from the gun under her pillow, just for the moment.

"Why me?" she asked, trying and failing to keep a tremor out of her voice.

The demon scowled, but his reply was almost kind. "Trying to keep me from my fun? You don't know the things I could do to you." Amelia's breath caught on the whip at her throat. "...But...there is something. I felt like I had to be here now. I don't know why." He growled. "Stupid, stupid, stupid! Why am I telling this to you, a little human girl? You can't stop me, you don't stand a chance. Just let me quench my thirst with your blood!"

Amelia wasn't sure if he really meant the part about drinking her blood, but she wasn't willing to risk asking, not with his temper rising and the whip biting into her neck.

"What should I do with you?" the demon used. "It's much more fun when you're complacent, like a little puppy. A little puppy that I'll be making my bitch, of course. But killing you would also be fun."

The gun clicked against his head.

"Not if I kill you first, you perverted freak."

The demon smiled slightly, exposing two sharp vampire teeth. "Oh, you're going to put up a fight? How cute."

"Shut up!" Amelia snapped. "One more word and I'll blow your brains out!"

"Will you now?" He sounded amused.

Amelia's frown deepened. "In a heartbeat."

He shrugged nonchalantly. "Kill me then." Amelia paused, and he chuckled. "What are you waiting for?" He withdrew his whip. "Go on, pup. I'm not getting any deader over here." The bullet clicked into the chamber. "That's a good girl."

Amelia didn't want to kill him. She still felt an odd connection to him. Truth to be told, she was in this lonely motel because she experienced the same feeling the demon had described, like she was supposed to be here. But he was goading her on, and it was annoying. He had also advanced on her. Despite the connection, she didn't particularly like this demon.

"If you want to die, go ahead," she said flatly, and pulled the trigger.