Hello, hello! It's that time of the week again! *bows with a flourish* That's right, it is once again time for me to spread mystery and angst throughout the lands! *cue maniacal laughter* Anywho...As always, I do not own Welcome to Hell. That honor belongs to Erica Wester. I own my ideas and nothing else. Also, a big thank you goes out to my beta who is willing to look things over no matter what. I love her dearly. Without further ado, please enjoy the chappie!

Caius floated into the Combs boy's house grumpily. Though he had loudly protested against losing his new position, he hadn't actually wanted to return to the foolish mortal's house. He hated that Mephistopheles, his fiancee, had lowered his position to such a degree. Oh, well. At least he could take satisfaction from the fact that he would soon be leading Jonathan Combs straight to Hell.

He smiled and began to plan how exactly he would go about this. As devious plots ran through his mind, he ran straight into the front door of the Combs house. Spluttering furiously, Caius looked up at the house. Why couldn't he get in? A quick study of the house gave him the answer. The mortal brat had put wards up around his house. Caius had been defeated by Jonathan Combs's research. Letting out a screech of fury, he pounded his fists against the door, knowing full well that Jonathan could hear him. He would not be denied his satisfaction by a petty human. Lips curling into a sneer, Caius continued to pound on the door. Jonathan would have to let him in eventually.

Jonathan had an entirely different opinion on that matter. He could sense Caius's presence and was well aware that the demon wanted to come inside. Jonathan, however, had something else in mind.

Last night, he had Googled how to ward a house against a demon and had been taken to a site seemingly run by Catholic priests. Whether or not the site was reputable didn't matter; the wards were holding up. Caius couldn't get in, and Jonathan could continue his research in peace.

"Continue his research, hm?" Caius mused aloud, backing away from the door as he did so. "He honestly believes he can help that idiotic sprite by conducting a study?" The demon scoffed as a smirk slowly appeared on his face. It didn't matter if Jonathan would be able to help Sock or not through the use of this "Google". Caius had a way in, and that's all that mattered. Still smirking, Caius left the front door and made his way to the side of the house. There, he found Jonathan's bedroom window and lightly tapped on the glass. Chuckling as he watched Jonathan topple out of his chair, Caius smirked and waited patiently.

Grumbling, Jonathan crossed the room and opened the window, glaring at Caius. "What do you want? Shouldn't you be off fawning over Mephistopheles? Isn't that what demons do?"

Caius bared his teeth, not liking the jab that was clearly directed at himself and his beloved finance. Back in the times of castles and kings, mortals had been fearful of even thinking his beloved's name. Now they threw the treasured name around as if it were nothing more than a triviality.

"I very much doubt you want to speak of my lord that way." He hissed, leaning forward until he was inches away from Jonathan's face. Now that Jonathan had opened the window, he had granted Caius passage into the house. He could do whatever he pleased, and he fully intended rip Jonathan Combs's-

Wait.

The mortal boy was already suffering plenty because of what was happening to that stupid ghost. Because of Sock, Jonathan had been forgetting about his most basic needs. Now that Sock had seemingly gone insane, Jonathan could think of nothing else but saving the man he loved. His thoughts had been consumed by a low-level sprite. Caius smiled and his eyes lit up with a malicious joy.

This was going to be fun.

"You know it is your fault, right?" He asked softly, forcing himself to look sympathetic. As a demon, he was not used to feeling such emotions. A grimace rather than a caring smile had appeared on his face, and his eyes were still filled with nothing but malicious intent. Honestly, he looked more like he was in pain than anything else. Jonathan backed away from the window without thinking, suddenly frightened.

"What do you mean? What's my fault?" He questioned, fearing he already knew the answer.

"Sock's condition, of course. You are the cause of his illness, and if you don't listen to me, his sickness will only grow worse."

"Why should I listen to you? I have no reason to trust you." Jonathan snapped, regaining some of his confidence.

Caius only smiled. Somehow, this was worse than the false sympathy, and Jonathan lost all of his bravado.

"Let's make a deal." Caius replied, holding out his hand. "I will promise to bring no harm to either you or Sock as well as providing information that will aide you in your quest to heal your lost love." Caius's smile widened when he noticed Jonathan flinch at the mention of a "lost love". Feeding off the negativity, he continued. "In exchange, I want you to make a deal with Mephistopheles."

"A deal with the Devil? Why would I do that? Hasn't enough happened already? Besides, Mephistopheles told me not to get involved."

Caius gritted his teeth, internally screaming. First, his fiancee spent more time with that clumsy fool Sock than he did with Caius, and now he was preventing anyone else from getting involved in the mess he himself had caused? That was most certainly not going to be the case. Mephistopheles wasn't getting off the hook that easily.

"And I'm telling you that this is the only way to save Sock." He pressed, entering the room through the window and stretching out his hand for Jonathan to take. "Don't you want to save him? All Mephistopheles is going to do is keep him in the Ninth Circle. Mephistopheles told you what a Cataclysm was, yes? Do you really believe that the Ninth Circle is a good environment for that sort of creature? It will grow stronger, and the wounds it has caused will fester as they become infected. Sock as you know him will die, and the Cataclysm will take over? Is that the fate you wish for your lost love?"

Jonathan knew it was unwise. He was probably making the biggest mistake of his life. But what choice did he have? He took Caius's outstretched hand, shaking it. "Deal."

Hahahahahahaa...angst. It's what I'm good at. Anyway, as always, constructive criticism and the like are appreciated, while flat-out negativity is not. That chiz will be ignored with a fiery passion. As always, I hope you enjoyed the chappie, and I will see all of you lovelies next week!

XOXOXOXOXO