A/N: Not much to say besides that I DO NOT support alcohol abuse (I've seen enough of that to last a lifetime) and I only own Cassie.

My head swam pleasantly from the wonderful whiskey I had shared with Moreau. Looking at his watch, he let out a tiny chuckle. "Chere, as wonderful as it was to share drinks with you and see how embarrassing it is to be drunken under the table by an eighteen-year-old, it is truly late. Here," he handed my flask to me. I hadn't even known it was gone. "A refill from your old friend. If you're going to be working with that nutcase, you'll probably need it."

"Wh-what time is it?" I asked drunkenly. The part with alcohol filling her brain didn't care, but the tiny logical part had insisted.

"About two in the morning," he shrugged. "I hope it won't take another two years for my friend to share drinks with me."

"If I get control by then, perhaps. Until next time, Moreau."

"Goodbye, Cassandra."

XXXXX

The dorm was the stereotypical setting for a horror movie when I stepped in—way too quiet for a place where twenty-some teenagers made their home. I should really teach them how to break some rules, I thought as I crept through the door as silently as I could. However, to my dismay, the hinges were more than a little rusty so they creaked rather loudly as I staggered in. Trying to close the door gently, I heard someone clearing their throat. I turned around to see Astarte, who turned the light on, arms folded across her chest. I knew that look from when I took my old boyfriend out to a bar with fake IDs I made and his mother found out. It was the look of someone who was about to get the chewing-out of a lifetime.

"I was seriously only going to have one drink—" I began, stuttering over the words.

She raised a claw, "Before you try to explain, I am not up because I was waiting to scold you. I merely cannot sleep." She tapped the side of her head with her index claw. "They're being too noisy." They? Don't tell me I have a schizo for a teacher. "Oh yeah. I haven't told any of you about that yet. Well, you know I can say so easily about your "other sides"? Well it's because I don't just exist like this. There are three other versions of me that all exist. They are the Outcast, my angelic form and my true demon form. And they never shut up." I know the feeling. "They talk, well argue, constantly. That's what I forced Moreau to experience. Their constant arguing." She walked over to the counter where a glass stood with some sort of red fluid inside. "So how was your evening?"

"I forgot how amazing good whiskey tasted." Then my usual filter between brain and mouth shut down. "Why did you only mention the third child today?"

Astarte stiffened, and I immediately regretted asking that. It was obviously a touchy subject. "I never told anyone else because...Because I can't cope with the memory. Every time I talk about it, I see her face, remember the little smile she had right as she passed away. It's... it's so painful to see and I can't cope with the pain." She sighed and turned. "Tomorrow my familiars will gather you all and I will lead you to our battle with Lilith. I will explain my plan as soon as we are gathered. Now, go get some rest."

It was a big, no, massive 'if', and I knew I was not going to enjoy the hangover I was going to have tomorrow. I seriously hoped that I was drunk enough that I'd still be drunk when I woke up.

Stumbling to my room, I noticed some of the doors open. It was a college dorm, and I remembered that if this hadn't happened to me, I'd be living it up at some small-time university, partying for free at frat parties and ditching classes the next morning.

When I reached my own room, I took off my jacket and boots, and laid down on my bed, waiting for the hell and nightmares to come.

XXXXX

My hopes of still being drunk when I woke up were crushed when I opened my eyes to a splitting headache because of the light. Screw you freaking demon powers. I thought demons had healing shit. Well, I just hoped there was coffee downstairs. Which, of course, proved to be in vain two painful minutes later. Screw it, I thought, taking some of the painkillers without water.

Outside, we all waited for Astarte and one of the new kids elbowed me. "Hey. I'm Ron." He held out a hand.

"Just take that hand and shove it up your ass. God only knows what you probably do with it on a regular basis."

He whistled. "Well, someone's hung over. You wouldn't happen to have anything on you, would you?"

I smiled a little. "You're the first person I know not to lecture me about drinking under age. Cassandra Martin." I held out the flask. "Only take a little. It's the good stuff."

He smiled a little, took a sip, and smiled appreciatively. "Thanks. You're friends with that guy that Astarte almost killed, right?"

"Yeah. Not sure why she felt the need to do that, though."

Astarte finally arrived, and created some holographic image for us. "The plan is as follows. I want those of you with familiars up here on this ridge." She pointed at the ridge. "Once the signal is given, you come in and attack any familiars she may have summoned. My familiars will know the signal and tell you when to attack as well as attacking with you. Those with elemental abilities, I want you lot to come up behind Lilith and attack her. Meiko and Leon, I want you two hidden amongst the rocks so that Meiko can create her worm holes and Lilith won't notice you. Specialized, I want you to attack from both the left and right. All except Cassandra, I want you to approach Lilith with me. The presence of a child of Zarathos will no doubt un-nerve her." I felt my bones burning just thinking about having to change again.

Scared, little girl? The other side asked maliciously.

Shut up. Once this is all over, I'm going to find someone to get rid of you.

"Ok, you lot get going to your hiding places and wait for the signal. At least one of my familiars should be with you to show you when to attack. As for releasing your demonic sides, just reach into your soul and mind for that dark part that terrifies you and it'll respond. Now go!" Everyone took their places. "I suppose I should assume the proper attire." The clown and the punk/goth guy I kept seeing with her nodded. Flames emerged around her form, horns emerged on her head, and the whites of her eyes turned black. She turned to me. "It would be a good idea for you to change, too."

I took a deep breath. The start was always most painful. After you got rid of pain receptors, it dulled a little. I took a deep breath and accessed the other side, goading it out. Almost instantly, the pain began. I couldn't help but let loose a scream as my skin started burning off. I could literally see parts of it falling off whilst catching on fire.

"Are you okay? I could—"

"No!" In this stage, halfway between forms, the voices combined. "This is the worst part," I amended. True enough, the pain dulled the slightest bit while my soft tissue and muscles burned away. The last part was also pretty bad. My internal organs caught on fire (talk about heartburn), drying up, shriveling, and falling out. For some reason though, my clothes always stayed intact.

"No wonder you don't like changing. Let's go Tikbalang." She muttered, nudging him with her heels. Tikbalang whinnied and galloped off, a slightly smaller chimera following, stopping momentarily, motioning for me to mount it. When it galloped off, a queasy feeling entered my empty ribcage. Don't look down. Don't look down. Don't look down. I looked down. Holy freaking shit, that was high.

Touching down, I almost threw up; when I remembered I didn't have a stomach. What? Is big, bad drinking biker scared of a little height? The other side asked mockingly.

"Remember. You're supposed to take care of the bitch's familiars. Use whatever means necessary."

I heard quiet conversation between Astarte and another demoness who I could only guess was Lilith.

The first familiar, a lion-like creature, approached me. What is this? A girl, a mere child with the abilities of Zarathos? I punched the thing, despite the painful contact with straight bone. It chuckled. Well, obviously not with the all of the abilities of him, though. Are you, perhaps, one of his bastard children he allows to run all over the place?

You stupid bitch, the other side growled. If you'll just let me out, I can take care of this overcompensating bastard in three seconds flat.

I let out an internal sigh. Fine. But only for the battle, and only on the beasts. I could feel the grin from the other side as it took over. "You just ran out of luck, bub." With that, I lifted up the lion, and tossed it to the side, landing limply. I knew it was dead when I examined it, pulling out a claw. After leaving the lion's body, it grew in length and became wickedly sharp, the occasional flame running over it. With that, I seemed to go on a killing frenzy, whatever came near me was met with a knife in the eye socket, throat, or whatever similar vulnerable spot I saw. There was seemingly a body count accumulating. This wasn't lasting, though. After I killed the last thing, the adrenalin and the change left me, my organs growing back, followed by tissue, then skin, and finally hair. Half-consciously, I listened to their conversation.

"Your crime will not go unpunished. For the act of treason against your ruler, your punishment is the cor devorantem."

"That punishment was banned."

"For the use as a punishment for a none serious crime. For treason, it is acceptable and the only one worthy."

I was glad I lacked the strength to even stand or look up, as I heard sickening shredding, followed by screaming. Someone, and I suspected it was Astarte, was making an amusement park out of her nervous system. "You must now stand as witnesses to the final act of her punishment. To ensure she will never again return to repeat her offence, the heart of the traitor must be destroyed." I felt something, I don't know what, force my head up, as I saw her eat the mutilated demoness' heart, and a last, bloodcurdling scream broke through.

It was then that I lost it and collapsed. I felt someone pick me up. "Damn. You're hot. As in, you just burned my hand."

"Sorry," I made out weakly. "Who is it?"

"Who's the one who was missing a leg when you met him?"

I let out a shaky breath. "Drake. Sorry about burning you. It usually takes a while for me to get back to normal. Just give me the flask in my boot."

"Are you sure you should be boozing so soon?" I could hear the concern in his voice.

"The one without engravings on it. It's full of holy water and helps the human come out faster. Don't do anything, no matter how much I scream, though."

He reached in my left boot and pulled out the blank flask. Twisting off the cap, I took a small sip to chase away the remaining evil. To say it hurt on the way down was an understatement. Imagine chugging lava, and you have a good idea as to how much it hurt. I couldn't help but let loose a cry or two as it went down, but after that, I was almost fully recovered.

"Holy crap! Do you think you can spare some of that stuff?"

"Believe me when I tell you: I'm sparing you by keeping it to myself."

Astarte turned around, a genuine smile on her face (the first time I'd ever seen it). "All I can say to you is Arigato and that I'm proud of you lot. You just managed to hold your ground against the familiars of Lilith."

Beside me, Drake asked out loud, "You know what this means, right?" he looked at us and I realized what he meant.

"Party!" we all said in unison. (I just wanted to sleep first)

A/N: Please review!