Jezebel rapped her knuckles on the frame of the doorway, and swallowed the lump growing her throat, before clearing it. "Father?"

The room was empty of all but her father and one of his cloaked advisors, and the look he wore was grim. "Yes, Jezebel?"

"Could we talk? Just for a second?"

"Darling, you understand that I'm busy putting this together? You still need a dress for the ceremony, and we haven't even settled the matter of the caterer."

"I know. There's a lot to sign off on, but I really need to talk to you. Please?"

He paused, his expression often one that he wore preceding a lecture, but when he sighed she nearly sobbed with relief. "All right." He turned back to the cloaked figure and said, "Tell the others that we will postpone the mobilization for now."

It nodded, and made its way towards the exit, flowing across the ground without even coming into contact with it. Jezebel tried not to shiver when it passed her, but the sensation was impossible to resist.

Once they were alone, her father gave her his full attention. "Now, what is it, Jezebel?"

"Look, um, when you first brought this up, I wasn't expecting you take it so seriously."

"This? Do you mean the wedding?"

"Yes," she replied, and tried not to falter under the weight of his stare. "It's something that's been on my mind for a while, but I didn't think…I assumed it was going to be a while from now still."

"Time is short, even here. As my successor it's something that needs to be settled before you take the throne, and I want to ensure that your future is a safe and secure one."

"Dad, please. We've already been over this. More than once."

"I don't believe we have," he interrupted. "Every time I've tried to talk about your succession the topic quickly changes. And now, with it so close, it appears that the same is happening again. Tell me, my dear, you do want to get married?"

"Yes, I want to get married, be happy, and fall in love, but…this? I don't even know them! I don't even know if I want this!"

"Becoming an adult means accepting the responsibilities that are expected of you. Regardless of your own feelings on the subject. Hell needs a ruler suited to it. Unyielding and willing to do what must be needed."

"That's not me, dad," she replied, the words tumbling out as fast as she could say them. "You know that! I don't like this, any of it. The cruelty, suffering, it's…it's not right, and I'm not right for any of it!"

"Then you will learn," he insisted, his tone rising in volume. "You will learn and grow into the role as intended. To assert yourself like any ruler would. And if it doesn't come easily to you, then let your spouse guide you. There was a reason I chose them for you, my daughter. Some traits are inherited, and others must be learned."

"But father-!"

"You will learn. There is nothing you can do or say to change that fact."

There was no trace of kindness or sympathy left in his gaze, no matter how much she pleaded. Even now, as she was on the edge of begging.

"It was a mistake to isolate you. To protect and shield you from all of this, when this is as much a part of you as it is me."

She gripped her skirt, and tried to stop the burning in her chest. The tears however, weren't as easy, but she tried.

"Now, was there anything else that you needed, my dear? I have important business to get to, and you have plans to formalize."

Jezebel was on the edge of running when the idea hit. It made her tears still completely. "…Yes, actually."

"Dex!" Johnny's voice snarled his name, as he paced in place and Shaundi's nerves jumped into overdrive. "You fucking knew! You fucking knew, didn't you?"

Knew what? About Troy? Well, yeah. I knew about him. What of it?

"Doesn't that fall under shit we need to know?"

No. Not need. Prefer to know, maybe. But it wasn't necessary.

"Oh, so it's completely left to your choice then? To decide who's worthy of us knowing about, while others are left to fucking rot?"

If you think we have a direct line on who's present-

Johnny dove into the last of the demons scrambling to escape, and took a potshot at one Shaundi shoved towards him. "Do you?"

Direct? No. That list goes through one figure, and one alone. Did we still know about him and the others? Yes. You keep your ear to the ground and you're bound to hear something. Not that it's any consolation.

Shaundi planted her heel on the throat of the devil below her, and planted a bullet right between its eyes. "It isn't."

I didn't think so. Old friends or not, there are some places you don't want to see familiar faces. You've been here a fraction of the time we have, and you know this. But he won't be the last.

Another demon's head slammed into the wall, all but obliterating both in the process, and Johnny let it fall. He didn't stop moving, however. His fist went through another part of the wall a second later, and Shaundi saw his wings appear. Fanning them out, he crouched low, and she couldn't stop him in time.

"Hey! Johnny!"

He shot up into the air, and no amount of yelling on her end got him to slow down.

"Hold on!"

Readying herself, she took off, and almost immediately came to a screeching halt when Dex spoke up. Would you hear me out if I told you to let him go?

"I'm not the right person to make a sympathetic bid for," she ground out.

I'm not trying to. But at times like this, it's better for him to burn this off. It'll let him keep his head later once we get into the heavier details of the plan.

Turning it over in her head, she knew Dex had a point, but that didn't mean she had to like it. "Fine. But if he's not back in an hour or two, I'm hunting him down. With or without your fucking approval."

Fair enough.

Pacing in one spot didn't help, but it did keep her moving, and after checking her gun for the third time, she let out a sound of frustration, and told herself to ease off of the energy she was tapping into. Her marks weren't glowing anymore, but she could sense it somehow. Stress and worry worked the same way – and both were currently in overdrive – but the itch to let it out with a blast, or a punch that would've broken her hand in any other situation wasn't normal.

The remaining bodies disintegrated, crumbling to ash as she walked over, and she crouched to examine one of the dropped weapons.

I wasn't sure how many of your people you would find down here.

"They were yours too." He went silent, and she found herself glaring skyward. "Just as much."

At one point, yeah. They were. Wouldn't have argued with you at all.

"But you are now?" She put the shotgun away and shook her hands out, willing to do anything to lose the tension. "I don't think the boss would've-"

Isn't it a little late to think of maybes now? And V's better off not knowing that I'm involved in any of this. She used up whatever mercy she had reserved for me years ago. There's none left.

Shaundi remembered the way the boss had looked when she'd come through the doors of the HQ, bloodied and bandaged, and tired. She had dropped Dex's name the next day, leading to a search that left them all scrambling to decide where to focus their next move, but with Dane still alive, they had agreed to go after him first. Dex was long gone by the time Gryphon positioned himself as the next in line.

But years later, when the boss had the resources, it would've been too easy. It should've been.

Dust blew across the concrete as she scrubbed at a smear of blood on her sleeve. The symbols glowed through a scorched part of it, and she swiped at them as well.

Come on back. Johnny'll join us, but for now, we've got an army to go over.

There wasn't any point to pacing anymore. V had done the same circuit over and over until her head threatened to spin. Shadows crossed the surface outside periodically, all of them ignoring her yells and the sounds of her pounding.

She didn't think it would work, but no cracks or signs of breaking were present. Not even chipping at the crystal with the knife in her pocket helped. She worked at it for what seemed like hours until a haphazard scratch nearly made her take a finger off.

So, she slumped against the side, sliding down to the ground as she squeezed her eyes shut. In a few minutes she'd be ready to give it another try, but for now, she was done. She was going to close her eyes and count to a fucking hundred.

Around forty she heard a voice. One that was loud enough to stop her from hitting the back of her skull in time with the numbers leaving her mouth.

"Hello?"

V perked up. "Jezebel?"

The surface went clear again, and she was greeted by the same girl from earlier. This time, however, her smile was bright, and she glanced over her shoulder before turning back to face V. "Okay! This shouldn't take much to do…!"

She snapped her fingers, and V scrambled to catch herself as the wall behind her vanished. Instead, she smacked her head, grumbling loudly, "Ow! Smooth. Real fucking smooth, V."

Jezebel ran straight to her side. "I'm sorry! I wasn't thinking it would kick in that quick!"

"Oh, forget it, kid. I'll be fine. It's more of my pride, anyway." She sat up, and when Jezebel reached out to help her, she took her hands. "Um, thanks. Seriously. I think I was on the edge of losing it in there. You can only stare at one surface for so long before needing a change of pace, you know?"

"After a few hours alone in my room I get antsy, so I can relate. But that's in a place with more than five feet to move around in. And with chairs and places to sleep."

V moved towards the large couch nearby and flopped down. The soft cushions were heavenly, and she let out a sigh of relief. "Eh, your dad didn't seem set on making this a cushy stay. No mini-fridge, no complimentary chocolates. Nada. I wouldn't worry too much about it." She ran a hand through her hair, and paused when Jezebel held out a small white tin. "Hmm?"

"Here. For your hands."

"Huh?" V withdrew her hand, and immediately caught the blood. The knick had drawn more than intended, but paired with the dried blood on her knuckles, she could see why Jezebel had spoken up. "Aw, don't worry about it. They sting, but I can deal. It's all small cuts and bruises anyway."

"Please." She held out the tin again, this time pairing it with an insistent look.

V blinked at her for a few seconds, but when Jezebel didn't drop it or walk away, she offered her a smile and took it. "Thanks."

"I know you said they don't hurt, but it looks like they do."

"Surface wounds are ugly looking. And after punching a few people your hands aren't going to be pretty either. But people aren't made of gemstones, so it was a pretty shitty idea to punch that. Probably for the best I didn't try to headbutt the damn thing." Jezebel sat down on the couch next to her as she took out the gauze and alcohol wipes, and tried not to wince when V ripped one open and swiped it over the cut. "Speaking of darling dad, he's not going to get pissed about this, is he?"

"No, I went over it with him first. How if I was going to get married to someone, it made sense for me to get to know them first. Through actual conversation face-to-face instead of what he's decided to tell me."

"Huh. Makes sense."

Jezebel shrugged, but didn't hide her grin. "I thought so. I know I've done it already, but I want to apologize again. For father."

"For him being a massive d-bag?" She finished wiping her knuckles clean, and sucked in a breath as she rode out the faint burn of the alcohol. "Doubt you can do much to fix that, hon. But if you're taking requests, I've got a few that might send his blood pressure through the roof. If you're interested in that kind of thing."

Jezebel watched her curiously, but the moment V mentioned that, her eyes lit up. "Like what?"

"Like cutting out of here. Just saying 'fuck it' and running." The light in Jezebel's eyes came damn close to sparkling, and V furrowed her brows. "Uh, Jez? You okay over there?"

"I'm ecstatic!" she said, bounding off of the couch. "And I was hoping you would ask, because it's been nothing but misery up here. Planning and running around without even being able to take two steps out of this place? I want to get married, but I want to see the world first! To experience things as they're supposed to be experienced! To be able to see animals, and feel the wind whirl around me, and the seasons! Oh, the seasons. It's completely magical."

V canted her head to the side. "You don't say?"

"And you. You've seen so much already, but I want that too! I want to be able to see what you've seen, do what you've done!"

V held up her hands. "Uh, wait a sec. You might want to dial it back a bit there, but I get the idea."

"And your friends! I've only heard bits and pieces about them, but Johnny and Shawn-dee have been tearing Hell apart for you! It's so, so…" She twirled in place, and sighed dreamily. "So wonderful. Like out of a movie."

"…Wait, Johnny? Shaundi? They're here?"

"They're half of the reason my dad's been so stressed lately! But yeah, they've made so secret that they're willing to do anything to find you."

V jumped right to her feet. "Okay, that changes things. You want out?"

"Yes."

"You positive?"

Jezebel whipped out a long red cape, the kind that could easily be used as a disguise. "Absolutely. I've even got a way out too."

"Well then, V said, grinning wide, "let's get this shit started."

Their walk to the elevator was surprisingly calm. Collected even. V held the cloak tight around her, and watched Jezebel press the button to the bottom floor as if it was the simplest thing in the world. Sadly, their way out wasn't even half as simple.

The first demon to approach her with the intent of ripping her hood back got the barrel of her gun to its face, and once Jezebel was aware of how bad things were getting, she broke into a run that would've earned her medals back on Earth. The two rushed to the elevator, and once they were safely inside, V went ahead and discarded the cloak.

The bottom floor was complete chaos. They burst out, V's guns blazing, and ran for the front doors.

"Go, go, go!" V yelled, blowing the head off of the demon right in front of them.

Jezebel sped out into the road, narrowly missing a careening van, while V dove to avoid a flaming Halberd. Jezebel pulled her up, and they ran straight for the alley. The hiss of gunfire was enough to keep her moving, but one glance behind her – catching a a flash of horns and eyes that glowed like embers – made her push herself all the harder.

A car screeched to a halt, and V nearly collided with it as Jezebel skirted around it. The car parked just up the sidewalk, however, looked like it was intact enough to run.

"Hey! Get in the Five-O! Just ahead," she said, gesturing Jezebel towards it with a haphazard wave of her gun.

"Five-O? Did you mean the-"

"Yes, dammit! Get in the cop car!" Spinning around, she fired off as many shots as she could before yanking open the driver's side door, and threw herself into the seat. Jezebel jumped right into the passenger seat, and V didn't wait for her door to close to floor it.

The brakes weren't responding, even as she kept on stomping on them, and gave Jezebel a panicked look before pointing at the seatbelt. "Get that on! Quick, before we-!"

Hers barely had time to click into place before the truck slammed into them, pitching the car right off balance. Squeezing her eyes shut, V felt them spin, felt every impact as the car shuddered and shook as they kept on spinning, until everything went black.

It all rushed back a moment later. Her head pounded as she coughed out the breath left in her lungs. The air burned as she tried to suck it in, and tried moving her arms. Her muscles strained, but once her vision cleared, she caught movement in the cracked rearview mirror.

Run. Get up and run. Pushing her arms against gravity, she fumbled at her belt buckle and looked over at Jezebel. "Hey!" Her eyes were closed, and V's fingers slipped. "Hey! Jez? Jez!" She groaned, and V opened her mouth again only for the buckle to finally give.

She hit the mess under her, and went right for Jezebel's belt only for something to latch onto her ankle and pull. Her hands latched onto anything and everything in front of her as she gave as hard of a kick as she could manage. The grip turned into a vice, and she barely had time to yell as the next pull made her grip give.

Tossed clear of the upturned car, she rolled over and didn't give the demons time to respond. Aiming this time for their knees, she gave one a hard kick, and reached for their shotgun. …Or tried to. Her kick didn't land right, and she stumbled before having the barrel collide with her cheek. That threw off what little balance she'd regained, and by the time her vision had started to clear up, her hands had been moved behind her back and restrained. The handcuffs were cold, not enough to burn her wrists, but enough to make her immediately strain against them.

"Don't resist," one of them said, their voice distorted. "You will only hurt your odds more."

Looking around at their helmeted faces and blacked-out visors, she wasn't inclined to listen, but when they dragged a woozy Jezebel out, she stilled.

"Is she intact?"

The one carrying her didn't give a verbal response that V could translate, but when they roughly deposited Jezebel onto the ground, she dove forward. It wouldn't have been a clean tackle even if she had hit them directly, but the one she was aiming for sidestepped, and sent her face-first into the pavement.

This time the sound that came from them was familiar. Laughter was easy to translate across all species, and it made her blood boil. Glancing up at the one by her, she sneered as blood gathered in her mouth.

Then watched as he was simply blown away.

V started, rolling onto her side as one of the figures trained its gun on the remaining three and didn't stop firing until the rest were put down. V whipped her legs up to get her cuffs around them, and looked for a weapon, anything to use, and only closed her hands around the handgun nearby in time for the firing to stop.

Still, she aimed it right at them, and tried to will her hands to stop shaking.

"Get up," they said, as V turned a panicked look onto them. "Get up and get moving. We don't have any time for this!"

She didn't break eye contact as she laid there, but when she didn't move, the figure swore loudly and sifted through one of the downed soldier's gear. A set of keys hit her stomach seconds later, and she stared down at them as if they were foreign objects.

This time they didn't say anything else, just walked towards the nearest car and started the engine. Her heart pounded as she considered her options, but dropped the gun for the keys. It took a few tries to free her wrists, but once they were, she grabbed the keys and weapon, and went right to Jezebel.

Jezebel's eyes were open now as she rubbed her forehead, but quickly took V's hand when she extended it. The two then approached the car, Jezebel partially shielded by V, and when the window rolled down, she pointed her gun right at them.

The figure jabbed their thumb towards the backseat. "Get in."

Her gun stayed fixed in place.

"You two want to get out of here?" they asked, eyes flashing from the strip where she could catch them. "Then trust me and get in the fucking car!"

V faltered, trading a look with Jezebel, but the roar of engines close by had her fumbling for the door to the backseat. She'd barely hopped in after Jezebel when they sent the car flying down the road.

Taking a few potshots at the cars behind them, she managed to tag one of the demons that took flight, but soon gave up when she nearly faceplanted into the side window. Seconds ticked by, many, as she watched for the roaring trucks, and apparitions, and when Jezebel grabbed for her arm, V gave her a quick once-over. "You okay?"

"Not really, but…I'm fine." The tremors in her voice betrayed her further, but a quick scan told V that she wasn't seriously injured, and that was what counted right now. The few scratches and bruises she could see were already starting to mend – part of her heritage, V guessed. They could work on the rest later.

With that settled, she handed the keys to her, and climbed into the front passenger seat. Setting her gun on the figure again, she gestured towards their helmet. "Lose it."

"I don't think that's wise."

"I don't care. Lose the fucking thing, or you'll lose your fucking head."

They looked over towards her before putting their attention back on the road, and V repeated her order.

Their grip on the steering wheel tightened, but after turning to her again, they reached up and slid the helmet off.

Her adrenaline high had her head bobbing to and fro already, but one look at him, one long look at him, left her rocking in her seat.

Troy wasn't red. Or breathing fire, or hissing, or doing any of the things she'd come to expect from the other devils, minor and otherwise. No, he was normal. Close to it as he could be, since his hair had no hope of hiding the short, dark horns completely.

In her crueler moments she'd let herself play with the idea of this. Of searching for Troy in the old space-time continuum just to see him, even for a minute, but this? No, she didn't know what to do with this.

He stared back at her, perfect in nearly every way that mattered, and she felt sick. "Talk. And make it fucking fast, because I can't keep on coming to the conclusions I want to."

"Funny, I thought it'd be pretty straightforward."

V choked down the bile rising in her throat. His voice was rough – rough and weary – and off just enough to steady her aim. "Don't fuck with me. Not now. Not when this is the first time I've seen you since… Since knowing I was the one to get you killed, Troy."

His eyes met hers. Even now, she found herself taken with them, and wondered if they'd always been able to catch the light like this. His mouth began to twist.

"Are you real?" The question was almost silent, and she prayed she wouldn't have to repeat it.

"Yeah." He wet his lips, and swallowed hard. "I'm real. Real as I'll ever get."

The next turn nearly sent her into him, and she swore loudly. Then she wavered. Felt her voice fail before she began to blink furiously.

She punched the door once, then twice. Lowering the gun, she cut her attention towards him again, barely able to see him straight, only to slam forward into the dashboard. Her hands moved to intercept it before her face hit it, but the sharp slap rattled her.

"V!"

The scream came from Jezebel, and once V shook it off, turned towards her. Then to Troy. Both were rooted to the spot, and gaping almost.

Up ahead, in the center of the freeway was Johnny. Surrounded by the dust he'd kicked up, he spread wings made of feathers and flame, and she felt her jaw drop. Then felt her body kick into overdrive as words tumbled out.

Troy reached for her, but she was already out the door.

"Jesus, Gat," she breathed, staring over at him, "what…what happened?"

He shrugged as she approached him slowly, her hands already raised with the intent of lightly touching the glowing marks covering his arm, and froze when Troy's voice rang out.

"Hold it!"

She spun around, and stared at him. For a brief moment she wondered if it was trained on her, but no. It was fixed right on Johnny, and that fact made her blood run cold. "What are you doing?"

Troy took in a slow breath, and replied, "That's not Johnny."

"The hell are you trying to say?"

"That's not him, not even fucking close," Troy repeated, and V screamed when his gun went off.

She couldn't turn in time to see where the bullet hit, but did hear Johnny's cold laugh. "What was that? A warning shot?"

Troy's aim wavered, but didn't drop.

"Figures." She didn't have time to respond before Gat moved, grabbing her roughly. Jerking her head back by her hair, she yelped in pain, and tried to scratch at him, but he simply laughed. You still don't have the balls to take the shot when it counts."

He grinned wide, and her vision went dark.