There was nothing I could do to calm down even hours after I'd spoken to Robyn. I paced around my room after my shower, unable to do anything except wring my hands.

There had to be something I could do. Anything that would make seeing my parents a bad idea.

But I'd practically begged Damien to let me see my parents again after he rescued me. I'd fought him on how I had to stay in the Underworld. Now that I had my chance to see them again, I would have jumped at the chance.

If I backed out now, would he suspect?

Would he know that something was amiss?

Of course, he would. I'd put them in more danger than if I just showed up and played Robyn's games.

Unless he already knew.

And if that were true ...

I couldn't drag my feet anymore. I had to save Damien.

With no time to lose, I made it out of the room and marched down the hall to where I knew Damien would be. His study was where he said he'd stay most of the day to look after important matters.

As I marched into the room, I didn't find him.

Instead, I found Asmodeus.

Damien's study was so distinctly Damien, it hurt. There were large windows along the far wall. Between the windows, there was a large desk with papers and knick-knacks strewn about the top. The other walls were decorated with statues and busts. Bookshelves lined one of the walls full of books and board games from our childhood.

Asmodeus stood between the desk and window, his dark silhouette stark against the light of the day.

"Jeans and a t-shirt," Asmodeus tsked. "How unbecoming of a queen."

I pushed the door to the study shut behind me and crossed my arms. "Since you're so concerned with appearances maybe you should get a doll to play dress up with instead."

His laugh was soft. "I'll play with you soon enough, beloved. Don't you worry about that."

I felt a rise of indignation within me. "If you ever touch me, I swear to every god I've ever heard of, you will regret that stupid bargain."

He really laughed this time. "Somehow, I doubt that." He finally looked at me. "Damien is not here. He left on an errand."

I crossed my arms and approached him. "Why are you in here looking through his things?"

"Looking for clues," he said as he looked through an open drawer in his hand. He slowly closed it. "Whatever he is planning, he took half of the Guard with him leaving this space unprotected." He shrugged. "I thought it'd be a good place to start looking for clues on his actions." He looked at me again, his dark eyes watched me as he leaned down to get a closer look at the contents of the drawer. "Since you're so keen on dragging this little dance out between the three of us, I thought I'd do my duty and jump at an opportunity to actually stop him."

"That's why I'm here," I said, my arms falling to my sides. "I was going to find a way to stop tonight's plans."

He tilted his head and walked around the desk. "How will you do that?" He leaned against the desk, his long legs crossing in front of him. He looked me up and down - the intention was so predatory it made my skin crawl. "Unless you have a dagger hidden in that shirt of yours?" He snorted as he crossed his arms. "Doubtful." He looked at me with amusement and after a moment, he spoke again. "So, what was your plan?"

I crossed my arms again. "None of your business, that's what." I didn't have a plan but he didn't know that. "After last night, I'm not telling you anything you can use against me."

He lifted an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"It's because of what you told him that we're going to my parent's house tonight. You planted that idea, didn't you?"

His exhale was short, showing his indignation. "No. That wasn't the plan. I didn't think telling him what you did would make him think you're ready to see your human parents. That was not my intention."

How he knew about my parents being human -or my parents at all- was a question for another time. I narrowed my eyes. "Liar. This is you forcing my hand, isn't it? To speed up your plan to be king?"

He shook his head. "You really think I'm that despicable? That I would be so desperate that I'd endanger your parents? If something were to happen to them, you would never forgive me. And eventually, I do want you to at least tolerate my presence if we're going to be together in some capacity."

I watched him in apprehension. His energy had shifted. It was no longer the dark polluted force I had begun to associate with him. It was lifting - like I'd caught him between shifting moods. I shook my head despite myself. "I don't believe you. Not a single word."

He smiled. "I thought you wouldn't." He reached into the breast pocket of his dark shirt and picked something out. "Which is why I have this." He unfurled his hand and held a small vial between his thumb and index finger. It was small, no bigger than my thumb and clear. He moved it a bit and I watched red liquid inside move against the daylight.

"What is it?"

"Pomegranate juice from the tree in the royal gardens. It's concentrated magic." He smiled. "It will give your parents safe passage to the Underworld as humans."

I watched him with bated breath.

"Give this to them but don't let Robyn see. He will know you suspect something. If something happens, you will be able to specter them to the Underworld safely." He approached me but I couldn't stop looking at the vial in his hand. "Specter them to my home. They will not be safe at the Keep. Robyn doesn't suspect me. He will not think to search for them there. Once they are safe, I will go back with you and we will finish him off together. "

I reached for the vial but he took his hand back. "Realize what this means, Emylin." His voice was grave. "This is in case of emergency only. Once he realizes you can specter, that you fear for your parents' safety around him - he will know you no longer buy his ruse and he will drop the façade. It will be Robyn in full force with Damien's power. Do you understand what this means for you?"

I swallowed. I was whispering, unbelieving, "Why are you helping me?"

He sighed. "Because believe it or not, I don't want you to hate me for the rest of eternity. I am hoping this will make up for it."

I looked at the vial as he handed it to me.

I didn't touch it. "What do you want in return?"

He didn't smile. "Nothing. Take it. It's yours."

"Is it poisoned?"

He laughed and reached for my hand. Taking my wrist, he placed the vial in my hand. "I promise it is not poisoned. I swear on the Styx," he looked at me to make sure I understood what he was saying, "nothing will befall your parents because of me."

Slowly, I nodded.

He laughed again. "You're just as I remember you." He stepped closer. He pushed my fingers against the vial with his hands making sure I held the vial in a closed fist. "I'm going to show you where to specter in case anything happens."

As soon as he finished the sentence we were in another room.

I blinked at the sudden darkness, disoriented.

Something in the corner of the room began to glow and slowly, the room was bathed in its light. It was a small living room with a large screen television in the corner and a leather couch in front of it. It was a smaller room than what I'd been used to in both the Keep and Julian's home. If there were two more people in the room, we'd touch shoulder to shoulder. 

It reminded me of the small home Julian and I had spectered to when he'd first taken me away.

He released my wrist. "The home is protected," he said as he opened the door and moved to another room. "It will let me know when anyone has spectered here. Of course, not just anyone can. Right now, it's just the two of us. No one else has access."

I frowned as I followed him out. "No one?"

He shook his head. "No one else. Unless I die."

"What if something happens to us?" I asked.

He turned.

I swallowed. "If we don't succeed? What will happen to them?"

"I can make arrangements for them to be taken to safety."

I shook my head and for what seemed to be the millionth time asking, "What do you want out of all of this?"

He rolled his eyes. "My motives are very simple, Emylin. I'm only trying to get into your good graces. Family is the fastest way, wouldn't you agree?"

I shook my head. "You haven't given me a good reason to trust you, Asmodeus. Not a bit. Not in your actions, not in your words - nothing."

He gave an unabashed smile. "We have to start somewhere, don't we?"

[A/N]: oh goodness, a short chapter.