WHOMIGOSH! Has it really been that long since I've updated this! Heh, sorry…

Just so you know, I have actually finished this, I just can't be bothered putting it all up…yet.

Anyhoo, here's the next chapter: An Old Friend. Hooray for comic relief.

"Damien."

"Hmm?"

Damien turned, his green eyes glowing with a strange light. The demon's claws were a reddish-brown, like molten rock, and the veins through which his fiery blood flowed could be seen like a spider web across his skin – they appeared, at first glance, to be rivers of lava. His tail was also reddish-brown, and it forked in two, forming strange tentacle-like 'half-tails', which he could move independently of one another. This demon had no wings, but an odd fiery aura always surrounded him, as if the creature himself was radioactive. Like Skarmandros, Damien's cloak covered most of his body, but his cloak was grey, and he seldom wore his hood, revealing his snake-like face in all its reptilian glory.

"You called?" he hissed in annoyance, after a period of silence.

Skarmandros glanced back at his old friend. "I am afraid I must leave soon, friend. My comrades are worried about me."

Damien looked sad. "Come, stay a while longer. We can play Retaliation!"

Skarmandros rolled his eyes. After years of living in solitude, Damien had gone slightly mad. It was probably also an after-effect of his heritage; Damien's father was one of the previous bearers of Skarmandros' cursed amulet. The cursed blood had been passed onto him, although with little of the ill effects Skarmandros had received.

"Sorry, old chum, but I must go. I fear fair Josephine will crack if she spends another minute holed up with crazy old X."

"Please?"

"Well…"

"An old stone construct used for drawing water!" Damien cried. (He really was crazy.)

Skarmandros walked out the door of Damien's isolated old hut. "Goodbye."

Damien yelped and leapt out the door, grabbing Skarmandros' leg and almost tripping him up.

"Nooo! Please stay! I'd be lonely…again. Moo!"

Skarmandros looked up into Damien's puppy-dog eyes. He sighed. "I'm not going to stay, but if you wish, you may come with me. But you must not hold me up."

"Yay!"

"And no more of that, or you'll drive me nuts too."

The two demons set off down the hill.

"So, where are we going? To Ostia?"

"Perhaps."

"I thought you said you weren't going there."

"I didn't say we were."

Damien looked confused. He decided to change the subject.

"So, who's this Josephine girl I keep hearing about? Is she your girlfriend?"

Skarmandros flinched. "No! What made you think that?"

"Are you sure?"

"Not saying."

"Heh. I know, Skarmandros. You can pretend, but I know."

"Do I have to spell it out? I-love-no-one. I-never-have-and-never-will. OK? Now lay off!"

"You just say that 'cos you want her."

"Don't make me kill you."

Damien was frustrated now. He decided to change the subject…again.

"So, where are we going?"

"Sorry about that."

Hector opened the cell door, much to Sirius' annoyance.

"There was a bit of a misunderstanding. You're free to go."

"That's easy for you to say," Jo muttered.

"Tsk. If I were you, I wouldn't give the marquess attitude, girl." Sirius smart-mouthed.

"So, that's it? You barge into our room, knock us around, give us both bruises…and now you're letting us go?"

"I told you I was sorry. If you wish, the clerics will heal you up."

Jo narrowed her eyes. "No." She left.

"Fine, suit yourself. No doubt your friend would want the assistance." Sirius sniggered, and X booted him in the leg. "Hoi!"

X grinned. "And don't tell me you didn't deserve that." He sauntered off, and Sirius was left gaping. "He can't do that! He just assaulted me! Guards! Guards!"

Hector laughed. "Leave him, Sirius. Don't tell me you can't take a good joke."

The marquess walked off, cape flapping away.

Sirius muttered, nursing his leg.

"I'm getting too many injuries today."

Jo smiled and sniffed the air. "It's good to be outside again, don't you think? Should we tell Skarmandros of our release?"

X wandered off. "If you wish."

Jo closed her eyes and concentrated.

Skarmandros, can you hear me?

There was silence.

Skarmandros?

I am here, Josephine. Is there trouble?

No. I'm fine. We were just released.

You see? I told you.

Where are you?

Funnily enough, I'm coming your way. I was…worried.

Fascinating.

And I'm bringing a friend.

He doesn't happen to be another assassin, does he? And I hope he's not crazy.

Ah, no, not an assassin. But…you may be a little disappointed.

You mean he is crazy?

Oh yes.

You're kidding.

Meet me in that clearing. You know the one.

Skar, I really must-

Sorry, Jo, gotta go. The aforementioned friend is getting on my nerves.

Jo sighed. Things were going to be even worse than she thought.

X grinned. "So, what's up?"

Jo gasped. "You…you disrespectful rat! You were listening in on us, weren't you?"

"Couldn't resist. It sounded like you were having so much fun."

"Don't make me hit you again, or you'll be crying out for those Ostian clerics."

"Make me."

THWACK!