CPOV

I was leaning with my back against my bedroom door, desperately trying and failing to fight back a deluge of tears. My mind couldn't stop replaying the image of the bloody ruins of my Companion's left eye dripping off the handle end of the Exorcist's spear as it used the weapon's business end to neatly cleave off half the fingers of her right hand.

I had been alternating between crippling guilt and blinding rage for the better part of the morning. I knew that the Exorcist could have simply cut her throat; it had only inflicted such wounds to cause pain, and I knew, I knew, that it had enjoyed it. How could something produced by a realm supposed to stand for good, for compassion, be so cruel?

And I had let it happen. I had almost let worse happen. I hadn't had any idea who she was at that moment, of course, and had had Adam's warning after last year's incident running through my head.

We are willing to overlook this transgression. There will not be a second time.

I knew that was another problem that would soon need addressing, but right now I just felt like smashing my head off this door.

The eye, I couldn't have saved. I hadn't even been there to watch it be destroyed; her resultant scream had actually been what caused me to peer over the roof and into the alley. Her hand, though...

I could have dropped into the alley a few seconds sooner. I could have stopped the second swipe of its spear.

With my face.

I wouldn't have survived it, but my Companion would still have ten digits. And that was something I would have to live with.

My phone vibrated in my pocket. I sighed. I couldn't ignore Vaggie any longer, it wasn't fair. Walking downstairs, I opened the lock screen and was greeted with several text messages.

VAGGIE Are you a f&@king lunatic?!?! I warned about this exact thing which you WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO.

VAGGIE OK... what's done is done. Call and we'll work it out.

VAGGIE Can you please answer? I need to know that you're OK!

VAGGIE CHARLIE!!!

VAGGIE Now my BEST F%*KING FRIEND won't take my calls?!?! Don't make me come over there!

VAGGIE FINE. You win. Me and Alastor are headed there now. Count yourself lucky I didn't call your dad.

Despite everything, that last threat made me smirk. Yeah. That would have been bad.

I wondered how my two friends would react to this. Vaggie would be her usual supportive, slightly protective self, I was sure. Alastor... I had never been able to figure out what his ulterior motives were, only that he had them. Which was why I was still resisting any and all of his attempts to coax me into a 'deal.'

But he would be happy for me. If I knew one thing about him, it was that, whatever his reasons for initiating it, he valued our friendship.

Deciding to take one last look at the Companion currently taking a stress nap upstairs, I carefully opened the door and sat on the edge of the bed.

She was sleeping in an unusual position; lying down on her back with her legs and arms simply in their regular places, as if she were trying to emulate standing. I noticed surprisingly few 'transitionary' features about her. None, actually.

Hold that thought. I reached down and pulled her lower lip down. Yep, I confirmed, she had fangs. Not just two, like me. Her whole set of chompers was razor sharp. Kinda like my dad. And s whole lotta other demons. I supposed I should hope she didn't accidentally bite her tongue.

'Well, well, well, whomever might we have here?' A familiar staticky voice intoned two inches from my left ear.

I shrieked in terror, falling off the bed with my arms flailing in about twenty different directions.

Seledra shrieked in terror, rocketing off the bed and falling off the opposite end with an undignified thump.

Within about a microsecond I was two inches from the Radio Demon's smiling mug, struggling to contain my rage.

'I would have tolerated your immature childish PRANKS on ANY OTHER DAY!!! NOT TODAY!!!!!'

'Why-ever not, my dear?' Alastor smirked, before disappearing in shadow and materializing on the opposite side of the bed. I heard my Companion, still on the floor on the opposite side and thus not currently visible, give a small squeak of fear. 'Does it have something to do with your newfound friend? If you'll forgive me for saying so, but she seems to be in a frightful state! Did you two have a spat?'

My voice became low, almost a growl. 'Get away from her.'

To my surprise, he returned to my side, with that ever-present toothy grin. 'You seem awfully concerned about this injured individual's welfare. Anyone would think your long-futile search for your errant soulmate has finally borne fruit!'

We stared at each other for a few moments.

'Ah.'

He shifted awkwardly on his feet for a few moments, clearly embarrassed. An exceedingly rare emotion for him.

'Please accept an apology and reassurance that I bear no ill-intent toward t-'

I interrupted. 'Apologize to her.'

He blinked in surprise.

'Of course! How utterly remiss of me!' Appearing at the opposite end of the bed, he promptly lifted Seledra into a seated position. 'Please accept my most sincere regretfulness for my sudden and no-doubt exceedingly surprising appearance. Me and your... ah, new friend, have a bit of a tradition.'

She looked over her shoulder at me, clearly confused.

'It's a game we play.' I said in a snipped tone. 'He scares the heaven out of me upon his arrival every time he wants to spend more than five minutes in my presence, and I scream at him.'

'Yes, well... perhaps it was not the best idea to opt for that entrance when I knew that our dearest Ms. Morningstar was not in peak emotional condition. And for that, I apologize. To both of you.'

I stared him in the eye, my expression clearly saying this incident would not be forgotten. Seledra simply lowered her eye and muttered something about it being fine.

Alastor cocked his head to the side and smiled. 'Ah-ha-ha! Wonderful news! Vaggie has arrived! I shall greet her on the main floor and inform her of the magnitude of this occasion! Then we may all make proper introductions. Farewell for the allotment!' With that, he did the thing I liked to call 'shadowing out.'

I walked over and put a hand on her shoulder. 'You OK?'

She nodded wearily. 'If I can handle being de-eyed and de-fingered, I can handle one of your... over-enthusiastic... friends.'

Smiling at her fortitude, I gave her a quick hug and said, We should probably go meet my other friend, now. I think you'll like her more.'

I took her hand and began pulling her to the door. She paused at the entrance, and shuffled nervously.

'Ms. Morings--'

'Charlie.'

She gave a small smile. 'Charlie then. Uh... what did your friend mean by... soulmate?'

I winced.

Shit.