-14-

'So tell me what you know about Beliel.' Charley growled., hugging his knees on the stone floor. He was tired. The presence in his head gave a little tug, as if irritated.

'So rude, talking to your elders like...fine. Fine.' he snapped, not wanting the anger Charley enough to abandon him into the oblivion again.

'As you know, Beliel is a demon of the Christian and Hebrew faith. As the Metatron is the voice and face of God, Belial is for Lucifer. According the the ancient scripts, 'Belial' means 'without worth' . But what they don't tell you is the 'Belial' itself is not a name. It's a title.'

'What do you mean?'

'Only demons with great power and political status are permitted names, and even then, they are only recycled titles according to their position under Lucifer's rule.'

'Why do you have a name then?'

'It was necessity, as I was sent to spend milennia on Earth. I needed to be tracked by my Masters, should I go rogue.'

'Tch. Fat lot of good it did. Went rogue anyway.'

'I did not.'Barry huffed. 'I did my job perfectly.'

'Then why did your boss kill you?'

'Do you want my help or not?' Barry's response was biting, harboring defensiveness.

'Sorry.' The voice inside is head mumbled. At that tiny gesture of submission, the demon hummed at the apology and slid through his host's consciousness like an eel. Charley shivered.

'Stop doing that. Now tell me what you know.'

Barry sighed forlornly. He really wished he had his body back.

'Very well... so anyway, you should also know that Belial is a twin - no, don't interrupt! Let me finish!' Barry practically shouted in order to subdue the sudden wave of panic from his host.

'Belial is the singular name given for the twins. But as of late...there is only one. Your predecessor defied his Master and was killed-'

'Wait, my predecessor?'

'I'm getting to that. Now without his other half by his side, the demon known as Belial is unable to function. What you met in the other room was barely a husk compared to his usual magnificence. His need for a counterpart drove him to ascend to Earth in search for a replacement. It was then that he met a young knight by the name of Adam...'

Barry purposefully trailed off, letting his host make the connection, if only to glut on the shroud of darkness that formed in Charley's mind at the mention of his master.

'He loved the knight immediately. But alas, he could stay on Earth no longer. He was forced to return to his lair without his beloved. Besides, young Addy was not yet ready. He was too far into the Light, too pure to ever be a part of Lucifer's right hand. He would have to be conditioned...trained. The sooner the better.' he gave a simpering giggle, 'Cherry, can you guess what happened next?'

'...he created you.' Charley growled. The glee slithering through his consciousness was sickening.

Across the room the rest of the party sat in tense silence. They were all afraid, the worst off being Owen. He had never experienced or even seen a member of the supernatural (apart from Charley) before today. He stared emptily at the dungeon floor, barely registering what he had long ago identified as a dried blood stain in the stone. He clutched the beads of his rosary like a vise, his knuckles white. He was trembling. Next to him Cheryl sat in Rayfelle's lap, clutching her Master's shirt but far more composed. Her head swirled, trying to for some sort of plan for their escape. Rayfelle was doing pretty much the same thing, only her thoughts were of Belial, Barry, and this whole fucked up situation. With Belial here, she reasoned, then he must be indeed weak to a point that he could no longer do his job. Perhaps even to a point that his position was being challenged by some pissant hoping for the spot next to the big man down under. Unfortunately for him, Johnny was no closer to serving him than when he started, no matter how corrupted the man became. Which is why he turned his sights to Charley. She frowned at the terrified human beside her. She felt a stab of pity for the guy and reached out to him, touching him on the shoulder. He lurched from his stupor enough to look up at her with big pitiful eyes. She sighed and put an arm around him, cradling him against her own shoulder. She was not, by any means, going soft.

'So how do I defeat him?' Charley scowled, not liking what he was hearing. Barry hummed and swirled warmly in his confines again, sending another involuntary shiver down Charley's spine.

'You mean other than surrendering to his desires, thus relieving our beloved Addy from any obligation towards him?'

'Preferably.'

Barry sighed, his presence murky with disappointment.

'Very well...but it will come at a price.'

'A price? Who are you to make demands?' Charley spat out loud, jerking everyone's attention back towards him. Barry turned smug.

'I am what stands between you and a happily ever after with Addy.'

He had a point, Charley reluctantly admitted. Barry had the key.

'Time is of the essence, priestling. Beliel will soon bore of torturing our lover, if he hasn't already.'

'...'

'Quickly now.' Barry practically sang. With great reluctance Charley spat 'Fine!' Barry hummed in glee and again swirled through Charley's head, this time with as much gusto as he could manage. Charley gasped and arched.

'Do that again and I swear I will deny your existence for good, no matter how much you struggle.'

He was answered with a simpering giggle, though thankfully nothing else.

'So say I trust you. What would you have me do?'

He could almost see the ear-to-ear grin.

'Why Cherry, I do believe that it is time for you to live out your newly christened name of 'Cain'

'For the last time I am not-!.'

'Shh shh shh. Arguing the fact is futile. Now listen carefully.'

He was in a familiar position, shackled to the floor and kneeling. He was whole and without a scratch, but with Beliel that meant nothing. He didn't need to maim or dismember someone to torture them. He didn't need to spill the vampire's blood in order to put him into absolute agony.

Pain. He was fast becoming too used to it, too ready to accept it. He wished these fucking demons would just kill him already and be done with it.

"Oh Adam..I hate to see that it has come to this. You held so much promise when I found found you. You could have been great you know, we could have ruled our legions together. Why have you betrayed me?"

Johnny didn't speak. He didn't even look at the man. There was no point in doing so, for no matter what he said the end results would turn out the same. Demons were too predictable in that sense.

Beliel frowned down at the vampire. He had hoped that Rayflo's reluctance towards him was from Barry's misconduct. But it had now become painfully obvious that he hadn't a chance at him from day one. The knight he knew was never his, and the vampire before him never would be. Very well. If that was how it would be, then so be it.

"I see that I cannot convince you, so I will give you my farewell, Adam." he said, with a touch of genuine sorrow. He leaned in and gave Johnny a chaste kiss, nothing more than a quick press of lips before departing. As he reached the door he paused and gave him a last sidelong glance.

"I will take Cain with me, with or without his consent. You may follow me if you wish, and try to stop me. But I am fairly certain you will fail. Good bye, Adam." He turned back to the door and with a gesture he shattered every bone in the vampire's body, eliciting a blood-curling scream of pain. Then he left.

It wouldn't be long before his footsteps would echo down the staircase to the dungeon and reach the ears of his captives. Both Charley and Rayfelle looked up and tensed.

'He's here. Now Cherry remember what I have told you. Do as I say and you will succeed.'

'Why are you doing this?'

'You haven't a clue what it is like to be where I am right now.' he responded gravely. He offered nothing else. When the door opened everyone leapt to their feet. Beliel entered and he immediately met eyes with Charley, who stared back. His heart was pounding and he swallowed nervously. His eyes flickered to Rayfelle and the rest before he opened his mouth and finally spoke.

"I have decided. I will go to Hell with you. I wish to serve with you." he said with a convincing amount of conviction. He was met with a loud "NO!", though from who he wasn't sure, and Beliel giving his predatory grin.

"You would abandon all you know and love here for me?" he spoke softly, barely believing his luck. Charley gave a stiff nod.

"NO!" Rayfelle screamed, lunging at him. Beliel glared and she was thrown back, crashing into a wall. Crumbled mortar and stone rained down on her. Owen and Charyl were at her side immediately, but she ignored them.

"Why..? After all Johnny's done for you, you..why? What the fuck did Barry tell you?" she cried. Charley looked away and didn't answer. Beliel just grinned and held out his hand.

"Come, Cain."

Charley obeyed, and took his hand. A roaring column of Hellfire rose up around them and they disappeared.

OKAY! Before you guys throw pointy things at me and abandon it, things aren't as they appear, I swear! And the conclusion to this whole mess will be next chapter! I'm sorry for all this!

I swear, I'll make up for all this, and you won't have to wait forever for it either. I know exactly what will happen.