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"I'd be delighted to. Come, little one. I have the most amazing thing to show you. It's called a television,
and if we're lucky,Buffy the Vampire Slayerwill be on BBC 2& "
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Their forms evaporated as I gently touched Sebastian's head. "I think that's probably enough."
Slowly he pulled his mouth from Raphael's wrist, his tongue giving it a final flick as he gently released the
arm.
"Wow," Roxy breathed, looking at the faint twin puncture marks on Raphael's wrist. The marks
dissolved into nothing as we watched.
I eyed Sebastian. He still looked awful, but at least his skin had lost the grayish cast. "Rest for a minute;
then I need to talk to you."
His eyes drifted shut.
Roxy and I managed to get Raphael onto the armchair next to the bed. I covered him up with a blanket,
and quickly ran downstairs while Roxy stayed behind to watch over Raphael and Sebastian.
She looked up as I set a plate of pound cake and a glass of apple juice next to Raphael for when he
woke up. "You know, I used to think this whole Dark One world was so fascinating, but I have to admit,
it's a bit freaky seeing a vampire drinking your friend's blood."
I put my hand on Raphael's forehead and opened my mind up to him. I'm not very good at sensing
people's emotions, but he didn't seem to be in any distress. "I think he's okay; Sebastian was careful.
Raphael probably won't even know what happened unless you tell him."
She looked faintly sick. "Think I'll pass on that."
I glanced at Sebastian. He was watching us now, his eyes the clear blue of a summer sky, a faint flush of
color on his cheeks.
"Can you talk?"
His throat worked as he nodded."A bit."
He had an accent, but one that sounded slightly different from Christian's. More French, perhaps.
Roxy winced at his words. "Ow. Sounds like you're gargling glass."
I agreed, but felt little remorse in questioning him. I had done what I could to tide him over until he could
be helped properly; now it was his turn to help me. "Did you see what happened to Christian when he
went in to rescue you?"
He shook his head, lifting one fragile hand to touch his eye."Couldn't see. Blind."
"Oh, I'm sorry. But you can see now, yes?"
He nodded.
"You do know that Christian saved you?"
His lips stretched into what must have been a smile, but just looked terrible with him so emaciated. "Yes.
Knew he would.Brothers."
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I stared. Christian had never mentioned a brother, other than having lost one when he was young.
"Christian is your brother?"
He shook his head, his long fingers fumbling with the cloth until he found the area over his heart.
"Oh, I see, he's the brother of your heart. Well, good, then you understand why I'm so concerned about
him. Is someone holding him?"
Pain filled Sebastian's blue eyes."Didn't know. Hadn't thought he'd come back so soon."
"Who?The person who captured you? Is that who has Christian?" The air in my lungs seemed to thicken
until I couldn't draw a breath.
Sebastian's throat worked as if he had a hard time saying the word."Asmodeus."
My blood froze solid. Now I wasnot only not breathing; my heart had stopped as well. It was amazing I
could still think. Then again, perhaps I was delusional. Perhaps I had just imagined that Sebastian had
named the demon lord, the being who had once been a man and now ruled a dark army of such power
that even wizards and mages feared to meet with them. Yes, I'm sure that was all it was a mistake.
Sebastian hadn't just spoken the name of one of the most frightening beings in all of existence.
"A demon lord."I exhaled, air suddenly finding its way into my lungs again.
"Oooh, I've read about them in Christian's books. They're bad news."
The knowledge of what Christian must be going through was dark in Sebastian's eyes, bringing tears to
my own.
"I am not going to leave him there to suffer as you have suffered," I vowed, closing my hand around his
fingers. His hands were weak, but I could feel the strength that they once held. "You have to help me,
Sebastian. You have to tell me everything you know about Asmodeus, and how he came to be in
cahoots with Eduardo and Guarda." I grabbed the tattered remains of his shirt and shook it to drive home
just how serious I was. "You must tell me exactly what happened to you, how they caught you, how they
kept you so weak you were unable to escape or even answer Christian's call, and most important, you
have to tell me everything you can remember about Christian saving you!"
"Allie, honey, I think you're choking him. I know you're deafening me, and if you don't want Christian's
housekeeper to come running to see what all the yelling is about, I'd suggest you lower your voice as
well."
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