Adrian was walking down a long, dark corridor, keeping a wary eye open. What's going on? he thought to himself. Where am I and how did I get here? His questions remained unanswered as he continued on his journey, wherever he might be headed. He paused to look in one of the rooms, noticing some pictures on a table-top.

The first picture appeared to be a family portrait, one of a family he did not even recognize. Am I in some human's home? Why am I in the home of a human whom I fail to recognize? Is this some sort of joke? He peered closer at the picture and noted a father, mother, and two daughters. While the picture had been meant to show a happy family, Adrian could almost see tension in all of their faces. It was as if they were not only happy, but they absolutely hated each other.

Adrian picked up the next picture. A young woman, probably eighteen at the time, was smiling falsely at the photographer in her graduation robe and hat. At a closer inspection, it was obvious the woman was none other than Angelique Dieudonné. How did I end up in Angelique's home? Adrian wondered, placing the picture back down on the table.

He left the room and continued down the hallway, wondering where to find the woman. Maybe if he could reach her and grow close enough to touch her, he could understand this power she had over him. Soon, he discovered another door which had been left slightly ajar. He snuck a peek around the edge of the door to find Angelique sleeping soundly on her bed.

Well, whatever drew me to this woman, it definitely was not her wealth, Adrian mused as he crept into the bedroom. The small mattress on which she slept was only big enough for one, and even then it was too short for her. Adrian walked to her side and knelt until he was close enough to hear her breathing. I wonder if I should touch her, would I discover the source of this repulsive sensation in the pit of my stomach? He reached out to touch her neck and Angelique's eyes flew open.

Adrian sat straight up in his bed, fear claiming him as he tried to determine where he was at that present moment. Once his eyes had adjusted, he realized he was still in his room at the Marion hotel. He calmed himself down and slowed his breathing as he wiped the cold sweat from his brow. It was only a dream . . . Why would I have a dream like that?

Adrian rose from the bed and grabbed the robe in order to cover his nude body. As he knotted the robe-tie, the dream flashed through his mind again. "What is it with this damn lady?" he asked himself aloud. "There's nothing really attractive about her . . . besides her beautiful eyes and her large . . . aw, what the hell?! I can't even think bad about her. It's as if..."

Adrian froze as the thought of his possible attraction to the human was utterly repulsive. He shook his head and banished the thought. It was out of the question. Adrian, eldest son of Satan, could not and would not be attracted to a common human girl. It just was not going to happen; he wouldn't allow it.

Adrian hastily ordered a pizza to be sent up to his room immediately. He was not going to look for this woman. However, if he should run into her, he would confront her and find out exactly what the hell was going on.

--

Angelique woke with a start. "What a terrible dream," she muttered as she quickly clambered out of bed and began picking out an outfit to wear to the shelter. That man standing over my bed . . . I know I've seen him somewhere before, but where? Angelique picked a dark pink turtle-neck sweater and a pair of flare jeans, changed, and grabbed an apple before she headed for the door.

As she passed her den, she thought she saw something out of the ordinary. She went back to the den, where her pictures sat on the table-top. covered in dust. If she had the time, she would tidy up in there a little more. However, the cleanliness of the room - or the lack thereof - was not important at the moment. She glanced over at her high school graduation photograph and nearly gasped. She had not been in the room for several days, yet the picture had definitely been moved and handled, as was obvious from the marks on the frame and the lack of dust in a certain area of the table. Some one had been in her apartment last night.

Not quite sure of what to do, Angelique hurried back out the door, locked it, and hurried down to the shelter. Her boss, Valerie McNighty, was welcoming new arrivals to the shelter, a woman and her young son. "Hi, my name is Valerie and this is my son, Zachariah," the woman was telling Valerie.

"My name is Valerie, too," Mrs. McNighty laughed as she glanced at a few forms. "We have a nice room you and your son can stay in." She turned to Angelique. "Could you please show them to room six sixty-six, Angelique?"

The woman seemed surprised at the room number, but said nothing as Angelique led them through the corridors. "My name is Angelique Dieudonné and I'll be here if you need me between now and five p.m. All you have to do is call extension number forty-five and ask for Angelique." She opened the door to their room and allowed the two newcomers to enter. "There's a bed over there and we can get a smaller mattress for your son, if you need it."

"Thanks, but I think we have everything we need, Angelique," said Valerie, smiling weakly at the young woman. "I'll call if we need anything."

Angelique shut the door behind her as she started back down to her boss's office, determined to find out exactly what she may know about the events taking place so far. She walked into the office to find Valerie talking to a man with his back to Angelique. They were discussing something a little private, she assumed, for when she knocked on the door, they were quick to silence themselves. "Valerie, can I talk to you for a moment?"

"Sure, Angelique." Valerie turned back to the man in front of her. "I will speak to you again tomorrow at the same time, Mister Sutain, about your business proposition."

The man's smile was all but warm. "Of course, Missus McNighty. A pleasure doing business with you." He shook her hand firmly before strutting out the door.

As Angelique watched him leave, she noted the the way he walked was a bit like some one she once saw a long time ago . . . but who? She was also noticed a small tuft of light blond hair poking out from beneath his hat before Valerie brought her attention back to her boss. "So, Angelique, what did you need?"

"Val, remember when you said I could tell you about anything I noticed that seemed . . . paranormal?" Angelique sat down in the chair across from Valerie's desk.

Valerie sat at her desk and leaned forward. "Sure, honey. What's going on? Is everything alright?"

Angelique hesitated. "I'm not sure . . ." Quietly, Angelique explained the odd feeling she felt when the crow was flying above her on her way to work the day before. She also explained in specific detail the dream she had that very night and the picture which she found had been moved during the night. "Is something happening to me?" she asked her dear friend.

Valerie was silent for several minutes before she said, "I think . . . you are being followed by a demon, Angelique."

"A demon?"

"Yes, and a very unusual one at that . . . Here, let me see your hands." Valerie took Angelique's hands in hers and began chanting some mystic words in a language Angelique had never heard before in her life. Normally, Valerie's strange behaviors would scare away even the devil himself. However, Angelique trusted in Valerie's powers, especially after they had saved her life from a fatal car accident. When Valerie had ended her chant and looked up at Angelique, her eyes were as round as saucers. "Angelique . . . you are in for a dangerous road ahead of you."

"What do you mean, Valerie?" Angelique was frightened now. Never before had Valerie looked so frightened or serious. "What's happening to me?"

Valerie sat back and sighed. "I was right about one thing . . . you are being followed by an unusual demon, the spawn of Satan to be precise. He is drawn to you for a reason he can't explain and he feels he needs to know why he feels this way. He will stop at nothing to find you and figure out why he is drawn to you."

"Do you know why he's drawn to me like this?"

"Not exactly . . . but I know a way to find out . . . without meeting with Adrian, of course."

"Adrian?"

"Yes, Adrian. He's the spawn of Satan who's been following you." Valerie sighed again, not happy with these events. "If I give you a way to find out what you want to know, will you promise to never tell anyone about how I did it or anything about what you found out about yourself?"

Angelique blinked. It was an odd request, but she was certain she could handle it. "I promise, Val. I won't tell another living soul."

Valerie nodded, then pushed a button on her desk. "Freddie, Angelique and I are planning on takinga walk. Can you cover us for a little while."

"No problem, boss."

"Thanks, Freddie." Valerie grabbed her lightweight jacket and turned back to Angelique. "Come with me."

An hour later, Valerie and Angelique were standing next to a deep hole deep inside and far below Grand Central Station. Valeria had carefully explained to Angelique the only way to find out what it was about her that was pulling Adrian to her without asking Adrian himself was to see his father, Satan himself. "Now, I've placed a protection spell over both of us so we won't be affected by the intense heat of Hell's fire." Valerie placed a comforting hand on Angelique's shoulder. "Are you ready, hon?"

Angelique blinked. Am I ready for this? She looked down into the hole, which seemed to be bottomless. Well, there's no turning back now. "I'm ready, Val." SHe took Valerie's hand as they jumped into the dark hole.

--

Nicky watched as the two women jumped into the only portal into Hell. "I hope they know what they're doing," he said to himself. "Otherwise, they'll die."

"So will you."

Nicky whirled around to find his eldest brother standing not too far away. "Adrian, what are you doing here?"

Adrian smiled wickedly as he walked proudly over to his brother. "I've missed you, Nicky. I came to see you and your family. It's been, what, two years . . . two years since you stuck me in that damn flask." His eyes flashed dangerously as he stopped just inches from his brother. "I haven't forgotten what you did to me, Nicky, and I'm going to make sure you pay for it. You'll watch as your precious family dies in agony moments before you join them."

"I won't let you do that, Adrian." Nicky stood up a little straighter as he faced his brother. "I'll go back to Hell in order to take you back."

Adrian laughed and slowly walked toward the train tracks. "Of course you would, Nicky. You love your family that much. However, I'm not after them right yet; there's something in my agenda I need to take care of first." He turned to his baby brother. "I decided it was only fair to warn you I will come after you and your family before I become the new ruler of Hell and Earth. After all, where's the fun if you don't even know I'm here?"

As Adrian watched his brother run down the street, the gears in his mind were spinning. His instincts told him Angelique came this way, but how could it be possible for her and her friend to use the portal to Hell? There was only one way to find out. With his mind set with determination, Adrian walked over and jumped into the portal.