Gabriel Todd paced down an empty hallway. His steps carried an uneasy echo, the wan whine of old floorboards disturbing the quiet that had fallen the building overnight.

There were rooms on either side of the hallway, four to a floor. Gabriel peered into each in a perfunctory manner, no longer expecting to find anyone inside despite clearly knowing them to have been occupied but hours prior. Most of the beds were unmade, the blankets pulled aside – as if the person sleeping had only just gotten up and would soon return.

Gabriel's frown deepened. Not a single living soul remained in the building, save for that shared between him and Dimitri. He considered and dismissed the possibility of a trap. If enemies lay in wait, they had long missed the opportunity to catch him unaware.

The alternative was no less troubling.

Gabriel stilled. A soft sound caught his attention, so slight it would have gone unnoticed if not for the unnatural quiet and Gabriel's own heightened senses. The demon raised his head. There was only the roof above him. He considered the ceiling, eyes catching on a path of shadows tucked in a corner. A moment later, a cat darted up the wall, disappearing into the hole in the paneling with a swish of its red tail.

The space above the ceiling was damp and cold. The roof pressed close overhead, unpolished beams crossing in uneven segments, some rotten through – a skeleton sagging under the weight of age. Gabriel's eyes glistened in the dark, narrowing on a lump of shadows.

Another pair of eyes blinked open.

Gabriel assumed his human form. Some distance away, so did Horus. The pile of blankets and pillows the hawk had gathered into a makeshift nest billowed up to accommodate his larger form. It was a comical sight; the hawk's head had initially only just protruded between two pillows, feathers ruffled. Horus' human head was similarly mussed by sleep. Had Gabriel not been besieged by worry, he would have mocked the man mercilessly for his filching habits, no doubt learned in his adoptive family of crows.

"I have a message for Valeri," Gabriel said instead, quick to adapt and attempt to turn the chance meeting into his favor.

Horus did not reply. His large, lidless eyes bored into Gabriel without a hint of interest.

Gabriel suppressed a surge of annoyance. "Please," he ground out.

The hawk cocked his head. "You are different," he observed. "Is it the human?"

"Call Valeri back," Gabriel said, refusing to acknowledge the question. His affairs were his own, and he owed no explanation to others. "Tell him that his patient is running a high fever and that I am well on my way to becoming truly upset."

The last sentence was meant for Iavor. Sweet Valeri had no frame of reference for most evils that walked his world, but Iavor knew well what it meant for a demon to lose control.

"Valeri cannot help him," Horus said, unmoved. "Complete the bond. It is the only way."

Gabriel opened his mouth, but found no words to express his conflicting thoughts. In the end, he simply shook his head. He was yet to ask Dimitri – yet to explain the significance of the soul between them.

The longer he was in the man's presence, the more difficult the question appeared. Gabriel was yet to find the right words when Dimitri's persistent illness worsened.

"The fever has affected his mind. He cannot consent," Gabriel said at last.

"That has not posed a difficulty for your kind in the past," Horus said.

Gabriel almost lunged for the damned bird. He gouged the floor instead, fingers turned into bloody claws. "Watch your tongue," he hissed.

Horus was not at all cowed. "I am simply stating a fact."

Gabriel knew the man to be right. The soul within Dimitri belonged to Gabriel; indeed, it did so twice over, as Dimitri had already promised it away in exchange for Gabriel's aid in Elsendorf. Gabriel would be well within his rights to devour the man and keep him forever in himself.

That was not, however, what he wanted. For the first time in his long existence, Gabriel Todd hesitated due to fear.

"You do not understand," he said, readying to leave. Horus could not be forced to do what he would not and Gabriel was too depleted to attempt such a feat besides. His ability to care for Dimitri would be greatly reduced if a struggle left him with his eyes pecked out, or his fingers maimed.

"The party from Elsendorf will arrive at dawn," Horus said.

Relief left Gabriel weak. He nodded in gratitude, mind clearing enough to remind him of another concern. "Do you know what happened to those who lived here?" Horus had chosen his perch for a reason. He had likely been monitoring the city since his arrival.

"They left," Horus said, then added, "The city is empty."

Gabriel did not question the man's account. He had made note of the silence that grew thicker with every passing day. "Where have they gone?" he asked.

"Perhaps to Elsendorf. Perhaps to nowhere."

Horus's gaze grew distant. Gabriel was surprised when the man spoke again, as the hawk did not usually share more than required when not in Iavor's presence.

"There is an urge to flee. It is bone deep, difficult to ignore. I saw many a traveler on my way here. Some were alone. Most were in groups. All seemed to be heading for the nearest border, although I do not believe they were conscious of the fact.

"One man was following a trail through the woods. I was following a similar path, so we traveled together for some distance – him below, me above. Because of that, I was able to see the land wither with my own eyes.

Horus paused briefly. The quiet was heavier in the dark, and lent his words a grave weight.

"The forest shifted. Something else lay beneath, sharp and metal. For a brief moment, the two overlapped. The man happened to be walking through and as he did, his right leg was caught in the metal trap. It tore at the knee.

"The forest returned to its original shape not long after. The man continued to drag his body forward, as if unaware of his missing leg. He did not call out. His mind seemed to have fled long before he set on his journey."

Gabriel shivered. He had seen far greater horrors in his long life, but the thought of living as that mortal had – an empty shell, incapable of reason – struck fear in the demon's heart as no battle or danger could. It was no wonder that Horus felt the need to speak of that unfortunate encounter. The hawk was born in Samodevia. The mortal's terrible fate could well be a glimpse into Horus' own future.

"They are here," Horus said.

Gabriel heard the heavy clopping of a large horse, the creak of wheels turning in its wake. Victor Fair had come dragging a wagon. Traveling with young children was not easy, Gabriel supposed – even if one of those children was a wolf, and the other the mother of a kingdom.

The demon took his leave. Horus could worry about greeting their guests; Gabriel had more pressing matters to attend.

Dimitri's room was on the second floor. Gabriel parted the door open, as quiet as a thief. Tired green eyes locked on him the moment he stepped inside.

"You should be asleep," Gabriel admonished. He strode to the bed and laid a hand over Dimitri's forehead, then touched his cheeks. The man's skin was flushed red. It would be a bewitching sight, if not for the cause.

Dimitri swatted his hand away. His motions were weak and disorientated. His eyes, too, carried the haze of sickness.

"'m fine. Where's everyone?" the soldier asked.

"Gone," Gabriel said. He would not keep the coming danger hidden from the man. Ignorance never did prevent pain.

Dimitri's gaze hardened for a moment. "It's moving too quickly," he rasped.

Gabriel poured the man a cup of water from a waiting pitcher, then helped him sit up so he could drink. Dimitri winced as he laid back down. His muscles appeared stiff and likely ached. Gabriel's eyes strayed to the crystal blade and felt hate course through him in a burning wave.

The bedside table shattered. It crumbled inward without a noise, the flicker of motion the only sign something had happened at all.

Gabriel shifted to block that side of the bed with his body. Dimitri leveled him with an unimpressed glare.

"It seems the both of us need some rest. Mind if I keep you company?" Gabriel tried, batting his lashes for added effect.

Dimitri huffed and turned so his back was to the demon. "Improper," he said.

Gabriel brightened. He had been speaking in jest, but Dimitri's tone – slightly flustered and soft – made him consider a more direct approach.

"Would you believe me if I told you that sleeping with me will in fact help?" the demon said.

A pointed knock at the door interrupted the moment, but not before Dimitri grumbled a response.

"Sounds like my kind of luck."

Gabriel opened the door with a wide grin. Victor Fair stood on the other side, hand raised in preparation to knock again. To the man's credit, he did not flinch in the face of Gabriel's sharp-toothed joy. He did, however, shift so he stood more firmly in front of the two children at his side.

"Heard enough?" the demon prodded.

Fair watched him stonily, unimpressed. The sight of his two charges imitating his serious expression had the demon biting back laughter.

"Let them in," Dimitri called.

Gabriel stood to one side, offering their visitors a polite but insincere bow of welcome.

Fair swept past him, Malik and Sofia on his heels. The man stopped at the bed. Gabriel was somewhat displeased to see how eagerly Dimitri welcomed the other man.

"You're really not dead," were the soldier's first words to Fair.

Fair's face lost its severity. "Same to you," he offered.

Dimitri laughed. The laughter turned into a hacking cough soon enough; Fair helped him up before Gabriel could, while Sofia scrambled to pour water.

"I'm alright," Dimitri huffed once he could speak again.

"You have a sword in your chest," Fair observed dryly.

Dimitri shrugged. "Hasn't killed me yet. Bit of a pain dressing, though. Thanks, kid."

Sofia looked startled. Dimitri patted her head gently in a familiar way, obviously an action that was once repeated often.

Sofia bowed her head, hiding a small smile.

Malik, on the other hand, was busily examining the crystal blade protruding from Dimitri's chest. Gabriel watched the cub closely, wary of his energetic bouncing from one side of the bed to the other.

"It doesn't look the same," the boy concluded.

Gabriel understood the comparison to be with the blade that had once pierced Iavor's heart. When Sofia nodded in confirmation, the small hope he had unknowingly harbored dimmed to ash.

"I cannot remove it," Sofia said softly, each word careful. "Only she can."

"Who?" Dimitri asked.

Sofia shook her head. She was reluctant to speak Beatrice's name – a necessary caution, given the power names held. The witch may well hear her, and they were in no state to confront the madwoman just yet.

Dimitri accepted the response easily. He turned to badger Fair with demands of an account of all that had passed in Elsendorf instead, providing Gabriel with the opportunity to discreetly catch Sofia's eyes.

"You must be hungry. There is a kitchen downstairs, and the ladies who lived here were kind enough to leave us a few things. If you will follow me?" he offered.

Sofia stood readily. Malik followed her with less enthusiasm, his suspicious glare a more irate version of Fair's own expression.

"Let him play his games," Dimitri said. "We've got a few things to discuss that ain't good for little kids' ears anyway."

Gabriel smiled charmingly, not at all upset about being called out so clearly. "Why, darling, you spoil me."

"Get," Dimitri grunted.

Gabriel waved, closing the door after his two shadows.

His good cheer faded almost as soon as Dimitri left his sight. He led the children to the kitchen and waved at the cupboards, distracted by his thoughts.

"There's really food in here," Malik exclaimed.

The boy's surprise had Gabriel scowling. "As I said."

"Demons lie," Malik told him, unrepentant but less combative than usual. The meat buns he had discovered were likely responsible for the improvement in attitude.

Gabriel did not bother with the boy. He focused on Sofia instead and found the girl watching him in turn, gaze expectant.

Gabriel set aside his hesitation and opted for a direct approach.

"Dimitri's Spark is about to consume him," he said. "Even if the blade is removed in time, the degradation process is unlikely to be reversed. His only certain option of survival is to complete the bond between us."

Sofia nodded. She was aware, then – Gabriel was relieved he had taken the gamble.

"Do not tell him this," Gabriel said. "In return, I will pledge my allegiance to whatever future you have decided for this land."

Demons did not believe in favors. What Gabriel offered was a trade, with his own life in the balance.

Sofia watched him quietly. "Why?" she asked.

Gabriel found himself speaking before he had quite ordered his answer, the words tumbling out ungainly one after the other. "I will not have his choice influenced. The bond must be completed, but what happens after that depends on him alone."

"And if he does not choose you?" Malik asked.

"The bond must be completed," Gabriel repeated. "Then, I – I would have no choice but to let him go."

Imagining such a future left Gabriel thinking of the Abyss that ate through Hel's heart – endless, bottomless, hopeless darkness. Imposing a life of misery on Dimitri was however even more impossible a thought. In the end, he was certain, they would go both mad. Rae's father was proof enough.

"Promise," Sofia bid.

The word nearly brought Gabriel to his knees. He blinked the world back into focus, his vision soft around the edges. This was the Queen's Voice, he realized.

"I give my oath," he said, and felt the words carved into his very being.

Sofia nodded. She moved around Gabriel's dazed figure, helping Malik collect a few plates of food to send upstairs.

Gabriel watched the two children leave. He staggered to a chair, suddenly tired to the bone. Sofia's help provided but a momentary respite. Gabriel would have to think of a way to win Dimitri over, and soon.

"If only he were not so injured," the demon muttered forlornly. The long stay in bed he had envisioned did not involve fevers and hacking cough.

Gabriel was familiar with desire. He enjoyed pleasing his partners as long as they held his attention, which was as fleeting as that of any of his kin. The flustered unease that warmed his stomach when he thought of Dimitri was an entirely unknown beast. To like someone without expecting something in return was an entirely novel experience.

Gabriel Todd sighed, half-forlorn, half-smitten.

That was the trouble with finding one's heart after a lifetime without.