A/N- Sorry about the evil cliffhanger of DOOM…I just couldn't help myself .And, since I have nothing else to do today, I will most likely be sitting in front of my computer the whole time, getting Gabe out of this mess.

And just a warning for TigerLilly21-- there will be more of Jason's evilness in this chapter. Just so you know.

Now, on with the DOOM! (joking)

Elizabeth had never ran as fast in her life. For a split second, she thought that she would actually lift off the ground and start flying.

When she reached the barn (it only took a few minutes, but it seemed like hours), she ha a burning stitch in her side and a tear in her dress. Glad that she had forgotten to un-tack Star, she opened the stall door and mounted her, nudging her in the ribs. "Hurry, Star! We have to go back to town!" Star, sensing the panic in her voice, bolted out of the barn at a flat-out gallop.

Her father was standing in the doorframe as they ran by. "Sorry, I have to go! A friend's in trouble!" she yelled over her shoulder.

They approached the town quickly. No chance that I'm going to hide and leave you alone, Gabriel!

As the library came in sight, Elizabeth could see Gabriel rising above the small crowd of people…more had come, but they were mostly gawkers. The only ones who were fighting were Gabriel…and Giles. For now, anyways. Giles was swinging that idiotic (and noticeably new) rapier of his like it was a stick, trying to hit Gabriel, who was dodging it easily. Giles lunged forward, aiming for his head, and Gabriel ducked…but the sword instead caught his hood and yanked it off. The crowd immediately moved backwards, muttering to each other.

As Elizabeth approached, Giles said something to Gabriel that she didn't hear. Gabriel shook his head and then his fist lashed out quick enough that it was only a blur, catching Giles under the chin. He fell to the ground, unconscious.

Well, thank God for small miracles. "Gabriel!"

He looked up and saw her. "I thought I told you to run!"

"I-" she started, then stopped when she saw all the villagers staring from her, to Gabriel, then back again.

And they didn't exactly look happy. After all, he had just knocked out the town idol.

This isn't going to end like it did for Kal and Alison. Elizabeth moved Star into the crowd, forcing the people aside to make room. "What are you all staring at?" she snapped, glaring at the ones closest to her. "The fight's over. Go back to whatever you were doing." lowering her voice, she addressed Gabriel. "I think now would be a good time to go."

He smiled apologetically. "I know…sorry for causing this trouble."

"It's not your fault, they're just stu--" She saw a flash of silver behind him. "Watch out!"

Gabriel turned quickly to the side, causing the dagger to only graze his shoulder. The unfortunate person who was wielding it ended up in the ground next to Giles before he could even blink.

"Did you see how fast he moved?"

"It's a demon!

"Monster!"

"Kill-"

"Oh, stop your gossiping and move already! You're blocking the entrance to my shop!" The librarian scowled at them from his door. "And there will be no killing and no mobbing up on the poor child, understood?"

The villagers looked at him warily, silent for a moment, then started up again. The librarian rolled his eyes and shoved his way past a few people, coming to the clearing in the center where Gabriel and Elizabeth were. Looking up at them (since Elizabeth was on a horse), he bowed. "I apologize to the both of you. You'd best be going before they get out the muskets and pitchforks. It was nice seeing you again, Liz. Merry Christmas to you and your friend. Now get!"

Elizabeth nodded and turned Star around the best she could in the crowd, with Gabriel at her side, keeping an eye on the people. After they were a good distance away, both Star and Gabriel began running, leaving the town and people behind.

"How's your shoulder?" she asked after they were once more in the forest.

"Just a scratch. It barely even bled." He looked at her guiltily. "I'm sorry…it was my idea in the first place."

"It's not your fault that Giles is a foppish cad."

He sighed. "I suppose.."

"I'm glad that you came when you did. How did you get to the village so fast?"

"I only left for a moment," he admitted. "I didn't want to leave you by yourself."

"Good thing you didn't."

"What did Giles say to you?" he asked. "All I heard was 'lock her away'."

"He said…that I was his property, and that I was going to stay with him. And that…he was going to kill you."

Gabriel laughed. "He's doing a very good job of it so far."

"But what if he comes to the castle? He found it once before!"

"Then I'll bar the outer door. The only thing that can break that down is a demon. My parents spelled it to make it impossible to open from anywhere but the inside."

She smiled crookedly and shook her head. "I suppose I'm just being paranoid. It's just all that's happened and all the people trying to kill you…well, who wouldn't be a little paranoid?"

"I promise that nothing like that will happen."

"Alright. Why don't we just drop the subject?"

"If that's what you want. I think it's a good idea. You shouldn't be worrying so much on a holiday."

"I hate it when you're right."

Jason yawned as he watched their conversation. Do they ever fight? He should've made the hapless villagers kill Gabriel…or maybe kill Elizabeth. Now, that would be interesting! Gabriel would go out of his mind!

But then, you wouldn't be able to carry out the plan you've already made, remember? Elizabeth needs to stay alive…for the time being, anyways. Then she can die.

Then what will I do with Gabriel? Kill him as well? Let him slowly loose his sanity? Torture him in that marvelous dungeon his family designed?

Ah, so many options! But which one?

You have plenty of time to decide that, Jason. Nine months, to be exact. And if none of them seem appealing after that time, you could always just wipe his memory of Elizabeth…

…and then start the whole thing over again!

He laughed evilly. Oh, yes, that would be fun to watch! Have him forget everything past him being cursed, then make him go through the suffering of being alone until someone can love him!

Only this time, he won't know the curse is unbreakable!

And no-one else would love that creature except Elizabeth.

You are seriously messed up in the head.

But who cares? It's rather fun!

Marie wouldn't be happy if she found out you were evilly scheming. Again.

Well, Marie's dead, isn't she? At least for the time being. And this evil scheme will be a benefit to her, so don't complain!

Wouldn't you think that she would rather stay dead than have you ruin other people's lives for her sake?

No.

Yes, you do!

No, I do not!

Yes, you do!

Oh, be quiet already!

Are you telling yourself to be quiet? Somebody's a little cra-zy!

Jason grumbled and magically transported a bottle of vodka from his cellars into his hand.

Uh-oh, we're not drinking now, are we? Marie always hated that! Didn't she want you to quit?

Marie's dead, God-damnit! He opened the bottle and took a big gulp, savoring the return of his bad habit.

And you'll be joining her! Do you know what all that alcohols' going to do to you!

It is going to shut you up and make me very happy.

Did you just say that you were going to get drunk so you would stop talking to yourself!

I do believe I did. Now, be quiet, me!

You be quiet!

Fop!

Cad!

Bastard!

Human!

Ouch…that was harsh!

Jason chugged the rest of the bottle and another appeared in his hand. Merry Christmas to me!

And after that, another…and another…and then another…and four more…

Jason was lucky that that quantity of alcohol, that would kill a human, wasn't life threatening to demons.

It did have all the same effects other than that, though.

Acting drunk and tipsy, along with horrible mood swings was some of the effects.

The usual goblin servant arrived at the usual time with his lunch. "Master, your lunch is -" He stopped at the sight of his Master, who was swaying drunkenly around the room, an empty bottle of vodka in his hand. "Erm, Master?"

"Damn you! Damn you all to hell!" Jason slurred, swaying in a circle. "Bloody rotten bastards, the lot of you!" Somehow, he was managing to sound rather British. Not that you could really hear what he was saying; he was slurring his words very badly.

"Bloody rotten bastards!" he repeated, and the goblin's eyes looked nervously at him, wondering if he should just leave the food and go.

"Now somebody hold me!" Jason mumbled, and then promptly passed out and fell on top of the goblin, snoring loudly.

Gabriel took the painting of Elizabeth off the easel; it had finally dried. Holding it carefully with both hands, he slid it behind his dresser. Rose lay on his bed, watching him curiously.

"What? I just don't want her thinking I'm crazy," he said to his cat. "Or obsessive." She scratched her ear with her hind paw then began to groom herself.

"You'd better not have fleas…or give them to me, for that matter." Gabriel considered is a blessing that he had never gotten those horrid insects after his curse, and intended to stay free of them.

The shredded remains of Rose's ribbon was scattered next to Gabriel's bed. She had gotten quite fed up with it after a while, and decided she'd rather play with it than wear it. In replacement of it, he had tied a scrap of black fabric around her neck, which she seemed not to mind as much.

"What do you think, Rose?" He asked. "Am I crazy?" He laid down on the bed, head and feet hanging off the sides. He could see most of the room upside-down from this angle.

He wasn't actually talking to Rose and expecting an answer; it just felt good to bounce questions off of someone else other than himself.

"Or maybe I'm just obsessive…and that's not so bad, is it?"

Rose decided that this was the opportune moment to play, and pounced on Gabriel's tail, digging her claws and teeth into it.

"Ow! Hey, knock that off!" He grabbed Rose and dangled her in the air. "Think you're being funny, do you?"

Rose squirmed out of his hand and landed on his chest, the tip of her tail twitching. Gabriel took the scrap of yarn out of his pocket and waved it tauntingly in front of her eyes. As she swiped at it with her paw, he held It higher over her head, out of reach. "So, you want this, eh?"

Rose bunched up her hind legs and jumped, catching the sting in her mouth and tugging his hand down. After he let go, she held the yarn in her front paws and began tearing at it with her back paws.

Gabriel laughed lay back down on the bed, looking at the ceiling which had decided to become the floor. As he watched, the door open, and he saw Fraya standing in the door…and apparently on the ceiling. He sat up and shook his head, ridding himself of the dizziness. "Yes?"

"You are to dress yourself in proper clothes for once, and meet Elizabeth in the ballroom." Fraya said sternly.

"What…? The ballroom?"

"Yes. She planned a party of sorts for you. For Christmas. And take a bath first--you smell like a wet dog!" She closed the door behind her and walked off.

"And what's wrong with that!" He yelled after her.

What? A party? In the ballroom? He shook his head, confused. "Did you know anything about this, Rose?"

The kitten paused her attempts at killing the sting for a moment, looked at him, then went back to her game.

"Might as well do as she says…" he mumbled. He had learned very quickly that, while a good person, Fraya had little tolerance for humans, cursed or not.

He went to his dresser. "And what does she mean by proper clothes?"

A/N- and so ends chapter 17! And Gabriel is alive and well.

About Jason's drunken state-- The phrase "dirty rotten bastard" came from a friend's grandma (she has Alzheimer's), and as for the "Now someday hold me", that came from a comedian named Nicky or something. The original dialect is "Screw you! Screw you! Screw you…! Now somebody hold me!"