"What in the Hell are you talking about?" Johnny Blaze's voice asked sharply. The disdain and contempt in his voice was unmistakable.

"My father….he took Dawn and the baby…he took my soul…please…help us…"

The hardness in Blaze's eyes didn't change.

"I know you hate me and you can kill me yourself if you want to…but please don't leave her down there, Blaze…don't leave the baby there either…they don't deserve it…"

His consciousness was rapidly waning again. Blaze hauled him off the concrete and pulled him up by the front of his jacket.

"If you have no soul, why are you here? Why bother?" he asked.

"…Because I still have a brain and I remember…" Blackheart choked out, "…he forgot to take back my humanity…"

Then, the former demon fainted. Blaze was left holding the slackened body while onlookers began to stare. Muttering to himself, Blaze got on his bike and slung Blackheart's unconscious form over his bike. The engine roared to life and they drove away.

Once across town at the rundown house that Blaze lived in, he hauled Blackheart inside and locked the door. He lay the pale man on the couch and went to get a glass of water from the kitchen.

"How do I get myself into these situations? Why is it that everytime I start getting some peace and quiet that all Hell literally breaks loose?"

He chugged the water quickly and then refilled the glass. Feeling far from friendly, he marched back to the couch and threw some cold water into Blackheart's face. He revived, raising a hand to fend off the icy droplets.

"Ugh…" he groaned.

"Wake up, Sleeping Beauty!" Blaze snapped.

Blackheart gave him a Look.

"Now…why, of all people, come to me?" Blaze asked, "Did Daddy burn down your coffee shop or something?"

"No. He found out that Dawn isn't entirely human and he's planning on using her to control some sort of demon army to take over the earth or something."

"If she's not human, then what is she?"

"She's a Siren. He probably kept the baby to make Dawn obey him, though she's a half-blooded Siren and could probably be of use when she grows up. It's bad, Blaze…really bad…I didn't know who else to turn to…you're the only one whose seen how powerful he is."

Blaze frowned.

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean I can beat him. He gave me my powers, for God's sake! How do I know he can't come in here and take them away?"

Blackheart sighed. His mind was still very fuzzy and he still felt confused and disoriented. He was about to go under again.

"I don't know," he muttered, "but I know you care about her, too."

His eyes slid closed.

…..

Dawn didn't know what to do other than the one thing that would tick Mephisto off the most: she prayed. The prayer was silent and in her head where even he couldn't reach. She had only been separated from her baby for a few hours now, but she desperately wanted her back. Her arms ached for someone to hold.

She had been given a room well away from the screaming, tortured souls (though she couldn't forget that they were there). There was a big bed, a fireplace, and several elaborate and ornate furnishings. There was also a giant bathroom, the nicest she'd ever been in. But she was still locked in and it was still a prison nonetheless.

"Where are you?" she asked out loud, "Would you let one of your own people rot in Hell when you promised to protect us?"

Only the crackling flames answered her. She felt so much despair that she was cold even when sitting right on the hearth.