"You should take the fae's offer. Live out your life. Do whatever you want – just leave her alone. What's wrong with that?" Ephialtes told Blasius as they walked along in the forest.

"I will not leave her alone. Not after what she did to me," Blasius replied angrily.

"She is not the same "vila" you captured," the demon said earnestly, trying to reason with the man.

"I should have known a demon would side with a demon," Blasius exclaimed and stopped in his tracks.

"I am pointing out what you refuse to see," Ephialtes hissed. The demon was not at all happy to be put into the same category with the aos sí, nor was he pleased with the human's refusal to see the obvious. "Oriel is no longer that child you captured; she has met other aos sí and learned the extent of her powers. Beyond that, she is probably in league with the devil. Did you consider the consequences should he come to her aid?"

"I intend to find out just how well Oriel knows Lucifer," Blasius assured the demon. "Call your angel."

"But…," Ephialtes began. The demon was sure that the angel in question would not be happy to be bothered.

"Call him!" the man said loudly cutting the demon off. Ephialtes did as he was told and seconds later the sound of wings could be heard nearby.

"I thought we were done. You got what you wanted," Amenadiel growled as he looked down at the demon. The anger in the angel's voice was evident and the demon did his best to hide the trembling.

"The human wished to talk to you," Ephialtes replied hesitantly in explanation.

The angel looked at Blasius with a mix of condescension and irritation, "So, you're the human who wants revenge against an aos sí?"

"The aos sí – as you call her – killed me," Blasius stated insolently. Despite never seeing an angel before and at a definite height and power disadvantage, Blasius did not back away or show any deference to Amenadiel.

"I know what she did," Amenadiel said dismissively. "What do you want?"

"The demon also tells me that Oriel is the devil's consort," the man added and cocked his head while waiting for the angel's reply.

"This is why you summoned me here, Ephialtes? To talk about Lucifer's booty calls?" Amenadiel asked the demon with a stern look. The angel then focused back on Blasius and told him tersely, "Oriel is very well acquainted with my brother."

"And she has bound herself to him?" Blasius inquired further as Amenadiel turned away. Blasius knew that for a being like his vila their word was their bond and a promise would not be broken. Even as a child, Oriel had been very careful with her words and would not make an oath to even the simplest thing he had asked of her.

"Yes," the angel declared and watched rage flare on the man's face. "Why do you care about her relationship with my brother? I thought you only wanted revenge."

"I do," Blasius assured him. "I don't want to have to deal with Lucifer showing up to defend one of his own."

"He won't. Even here, the devil only worries about his own well-being," Amenadiel laughed.

"Good," Blasius said. He was certain that his vila hadn't counted on being abandoned by Lucifer. "One more thing, why I am not immortal as I was told?"

"I didn't ever tell you that you were," the angel stated unsympathetically. "If the demon led you to believe that, take it up with him." As all eyes turned to Ephialtes who lowered his head slightly as he realized the deception had been discovered.

"Being mortal, how can I best her in a fight? Oriel could kill me in an instant," Blasius demanded.

"You should've thought of that before you decided that you needed to be back on Earth," Amenadiel told him with a smirk.

"You must know something that can hurt her," Blasius demanded.

"I might," the angel admitted and tried to block any thoughts of the potential ramifications of what he was about to do out of his head. Amenadiel's argument – as always – was with his brother and not Oriel. However, the fae was always ready to play devil's advocate even with higher beings like himself. In the end, as far as Amenadiel was concerned Lucifer needed to go back to Hell no matter the consequences or who suffered.

Blasius laughed. "Then help me. To exact my revenge, I need something that can severely injure her at the very least."

Amenadiel paused for a moment or two and just looked at the man before reaching into a pocket. He pulled out a curved blade and handed it over. The angel had convinced Maze to part with the weapon by telling her that it would help get Lucifer back to Hell sooner rather than later.

"This is more than capable of hurting her," the angel told Blasius.

Blasius carefully turned over the blade in his hands. "Are you certain?"

"If you don't want it, I will take it back," Amenadiel said.

"No! I will keep it," Blasius told the angel as Ephialtes observed the interaction warily. While the human and angel were talking, the demon was contemplating the outcome of what was being set in motion. Ephialtes could easily see a war developing between aos sí and the angel with the blame quite possibly being put on him. The demon wanted no part of it.

As soon as the human decided to keep the weapon, Amenadiel left Blasius and Ephialtes without another word. The demon took this opportunity to announce his decision.

"I am done with this. I got what I wanted. This will not end well for you…or for the angel," the demon said looking up at Blasius.

"What do you mean?" Blasius questioned and brandished the knife at the creature. "I can now hurt Oriel."

"Yes, and should you kill her you will have to deal with the aos sí afterwards – maybe Lucifer, too. Both will leave more than a red mark on your neck," Ephialtes told him.

"You have said the aos sí rarely leave their land and that Oriel does not follow their rules. Why would they care? Lucifer only cares for himself; I have seen that personally," Blasius declared and self-consciously rubbed his neck.

"The fae are fiercely loyal and take care of their own. They will avenge her death," the demon explained. "If Lucifer doesn't come to her aid directly, he will not be happy to learn she is gone. She is not one of his playthings in Hell. I will not be further involved in this."

"Fine; run away in fear. But first bring me food and some other things I will need," Blasius told Ephialtes. In addition to enough food for that night and the next morning, he asked the demon to bring him four iron stakes.

####

"What is your decision?" Oriel asked as she jumped down from a tree branch where she had been watching for Blasius' approach. Knowing Blasius as well as she did, Oriel had prepared and dressed herself for a fight. She had her hair tightly braided to keep it out of the way and had the Hell-forged dagger Lucifer gifted her hidden inside one of the high boots she was wearing.

"You will not be rid of me so easily. I have a score to settle with you," Blasius snarled after his breathing slowed. The fae had startled him with her drop to the forest floor.

"So be it," she told him. It was the answer she had expected. "Where's the demon?"

"Some demon. He was afraid of the consequences and returned to Hell," Blasius replied with a sneer.

"At least one of you has some sense," Oriel said matter-of-factly as she deliberately made her eyes glow bright.

"What guarantee do I have that you will fight fair?" he asked and stared at her. The man watched her carefully and slowly came to the realization that the demon was right about Oriel. She was now far removed from the scared, young otherworldly creature he had captured over one thousand years ago. "None of your appearing and disappearing, magical spells, and all that."

"I give you my word," she answered with a swift nod.

"That is not enough," Blasius told her as he shook his head.

"It is enough," Oriel argued loudly. "You know very well that for my kind promises are binding."

"As is this iron," Blasius said and went about placing four stakes in the clearing at north, south, east and west. "You will not be able leave the bounds of the area."

Oriel laughed as he put the last stake in the ground. Iron only had power and could hurt her if she allowed it. Lucifer had proved to Oriel years ago that it was her own belief that caused the iron to harm her. "I gave you my word I would fight fair; I could've struck you down innumerable times already if I had wanted to," she told him.

"Maybe you are not as strong as you want me to believe. Maybe you are waiting for Lucifer to save you. After all, you are the devil's whore," Blasius said to her caustically.

"If you are hoping to make me cry with your words, you're going to have to do better than that," she answered indifferently and looked towards the tree tops.

"You are far from special, Oriel; Lucifer beds any that catch his eye," he replied derisively.

"I know. Sometimes he even lets me choose for him," the fae told him with a cheeky tone to her voice. Her words had the effect she had wanted and Oriel watched Blasius' expression change.

"Delay all you want; the devil won't come to your aid, even if you are bound to him," he told her with a disgusted look on his face.

"I wouldn't accept Lucifer's assistance if he were standing next to me," Oriel said calmly. "Unlike you, I don't make deals with demons – or the devil."

"When I get finished with you, you will be begging for the devil to help you," Blasius said angrily and quickly pulled out the curved blade. He darted in and slashed at Oriel.

Oriel dodged sideways to avoid the knife but was caught off guard and had not moved quick enough. The blade cut her left arm deeply above the elbow leaving a bloody trail a few inches long. As the razor-sharp edge sliced her skin an intense, searing pain ripped through her and caused her to cry out. Oriel immediately knew it was no man-made weapon Blasius was wielding. The pain was extreme and strong enough to break through her power and the wards she had carefully crafted to keep her presence hidden.

Oriel involuntary reached for her arm and stumbled backwards a few steps. Breathing heavily, she tried to ignore the severe burning sensation in her arm and regain her composure. She quickly wiped her bloody hand on her pants and pulled the dagger Lucifer had given her out of her right boot.

"Bastard!" Oriel cursed loudly her eyes flashing as she brandished the knife in Blasius' direction.

"Take away the advantages and the vila can be hurt – no matter how her power has grown over time," he harassed her.

Blasius lunged at Oriel with his knife again, but this time she was ready for him. Grimacing with the movement, she blocked his jab with her injured arm and managed to cut him with her own dagger. He jumped backwards as he felt the pain.

"Tell me, does it burn like hellfire?" Oriel asked and crouched low to the ground preparing for the next attack. "You do have first-hand experience."

"I thought you didn't make deals with the devil," Blasius said in between panting breaths.

"I don't. It was a gift," she replied with a stony stare. Oriel then added brazenly, "I am a little special."

Blasius temper got the better of him and he threw the curved blade at Oriel. She dodged as it flew by her right ear and landed on the ground behind her. The man then ran at her and knocked her off her feet. As they struggled, he forcefully jabbed his knee into her injured arm and managed to pin her right wrist to the ground. Blasius then took the opportunity to punch Oriel in the jaw. The combination of blows coupled with the pain caused her to lose her grip on the dagger and Blasius made a grab for it. As he did, Oriel executed a strategically placed kick. Unlike the night with Lucifer, this time she didn't miss. Oriel pushed a groaning Blasius off her and quickly scrambled away snatching the curved blade. She was near the edge of the clearing where he had planted an iron stake and Blasius managed a laugh thinking he had trapped her.

"You can't cross the threshold of the iron," he said and crawled towards the dagger determined to get it.

Oriel said nothing but glared in his direction. She took a deliberate step backwards beyond the invisible line the stakes made and then grabbed the piece of iron out of the ground. Oriel then flung it straight at Blasius. It hit him in the shoulder knocking him back and away from the dagger. "Old wives' tale," she stated.

Oriel then looked at the weapon that she held in her hand; she had never used a curved blade before. The fae transferred it to her dominant hand, took aim, and threw it hard at Blasius. It hit him in the upper thigh. The man howled in pain and clawed at the weapon pulling it out. He rolled on the ground his leg bleeding profusely and tried to crawl towards her.

Oriel remained where she was and watched him coldly. "For all his issues and idiosyncrasies, Lucifer will always be a better creature than you," she said. "Think about that for eternity."

After Blasius drew his final breath, Oriel picked up the curved blade that had fallen from his hands. After taking some time to carefully examine it, she tucked into a pocket on her pants. She then secreted the dagger back into her boot. Oriel then sunk down on her knees on the forest floor as the impact of what had just occurred hit her. Her arm was still bleeding and burning and her body shook with silent sobs.

Seconds later, Oriel wiped the tears from her cheeks with both hands, groaning as she moved her injured arm. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, fighting to quell the tears as she told herself this was not the time or place for a breakdown.

#####

"Do you always read about demons in your spare time?" Chloe as Lucifer emerged from his car.

"I generally prefer classic literature. If you are referring to the Heptameron, Oriel was perusing it the last time she visited," he told her.

"Seems like a strange choice of reading," the detective replied.

"It's surprisingly accurate," Lucifer informed her and received a wide-eyed stare from the cop. He then continued to say almost to himself, "I do wonder how they learned so much."

"Have you heard anything from Oriel?" Chloe asked cautiously.

"Nope," Lucifer said shortly and walked towards the others gathered at the scene.

The duo walked around the crime scene with Chloe pointing out specifics for Lucifer to take note of. For his part, the devil tried to maintain interest in what was happening around him despite a steadily growing concern for Oriel. In the middle of answering one of the detective's more mundane inquiries, he felt a searing pain in his chest that emanated outward. Lucifer stopped talking and staggered backwards with a surprised look on his face; he could hear the fae's cry of pain as if she was right there. At that moment not only did Lucifer know exactly where Oriel was but he also felt every bit of the pain Maze's knife had inflicted on her.

Chloe rushed over and held onto his arm trying to steady him. A wall of the dilapidated building propped up Lucifer's other side. "Are you okay?" she asked with a worried look. "Let me call for help."

"I'm fine," he gasped as the pain dulled a bit. The devil could now almost stand without assistance of the wall or the detective, although he was still breathing heavily and was bent over with his hands on his legs.

"You don't look fine," she told him as she observed his shocked expression and pallor to his skin. "I think you're having a heart attack."

"The devil does not have heart attacks," Lucifer stated with a bit of an edge and straightened up.

"Just like the devil doesn't bleed when he's shot?" Chloe retorted. "Let me get someone here."

"I need to go," Lucifer told her. He began walking, gingerly at first, towards his Corvette with the detective following closely after him. The devil got into his car, slammed the door, and left the crime scene without further explanation or even a look in Chloe's direction.

Lucifer started out driving in Oriel's direction before suddenly realizing that it would take hours to get there even if he ignored speed limits. "Bloody hell," he muttered and pulled over to the side of the road. He placed his hands together as he sat in the car and silently, albeit somewhat reluctantly, called on his brother.

"Finally! It's my turn to ask what now?" Michael said smugly as he stood next to the vehicle.

"You know very well what now," Lucifer said petulantly.

"I have much more important things to do than keep track of you and the problems you inadvertently cause," the angel told him. "What do you want Lucifer?"

"Oriel is hurt; I can feel it. Why can't you?" the devil grumbled. "After all, you're Dad's go-to guy and her confidant."

"I don't feel it because I am not bound to her. You are," Michael explained and looked skyward, surprised that his brother hadn't already figured out that fact. "Why should I take you to her?"

"I cannot get there…quickly. If Amenadiel has helped Blasius there is a good chance she will be outmatched and you don't want Oriel to die any more than I do," the devil replied looking his brother directly in the eyes.

"I bet you wish you had your wings right about now?" the angel chided him.

"Stop wasting time and get me there," Lucifer growled angrily.

"That wasn't too awkward," Michael said sarcastically as they arrived in the forest Lucifer had specified. It was eerily quiet as the pair slowly walked towards a small clearing under the canopy of the trees. The devil bent down and pulled an iron stake from the ground on one edge of the clearing. As he stood back up, he saw Blasius' body lying several feet away and walked towards it.

"Stupid human," the devil said and tossed the stake far into the forest. "My brother gave you a second chance and Oriel gifted you a third. And you…you squander it all. May you enjoy Hell again."

"Oriel?" Michael asked as he looked at some blood spattered leaves.

"Is not here," Lucifer replied testily. "Get me back to my car."