There was a long moment where nothing happened. In that moment, fear continued to consume me. What was happening? Who were these people? Were James and Dan alright?

At the thought of James getting hurt, my fear changed. I was still worried about him and the other officer, but I knew what I needed to do. I wasn't some defenseless child. I could help the others.

"Lisa," I said, surprising myself at how steady my voice was. "I need my swords."

Lisa stared at me, clearly not agreeing with my newfound confidence. "Chrystal, are you insane? I can't let you go out there. You'll be killed!"

"If I don't do something, so will James! I need to help him!"

There was a beat between us, and I saw Lisa's eyes move to something over my shoulder.

I turned and looked up. Standing behind me was Sebastian, smiling at me.

"I believe you requested these?" he asked, holding out his hands. In them were my twin blades.

I took the swords from him and turned to the door. Taking a deep breath, I nodded to myself. I could do this.

"Let's go," I said to Sebastian, then ran for the door and threw it open before running toward the sound of guns and groans. Both demons followed.

We made it to the landing in the main hall above the stairs. Below was a massacre. Men and women were fighting each other, which confused me a great deal. Didn't they all come here together? Why were they fighting each other?

Behind me, I heard Lisa give what sounded like a sigh of relief.

I looked at her. "What is it? Why are they all fighting each other?"

She gave me a tense smile, then bowed slightly. "Please forgive me for keeping this from you, but I had several others come with me to watch over you. I made sure they hid outside so as to not bother you. We didn't want to take any chances."

I nodded to her, still a little confused. Did James and Dan know they were there? When they'd gone outside, had it really been to converse with the demons hiding in the trees?

I shook my head, clearing it of the intrusive thoughts. I didn't care that they had been hiding around my house. I only cared about making sure James and Dan were safe. I faced forward again.

"Hey!" I called out to the fighting demons below. "I'm the one you want, right? Leave my friends alone and come get me!"

Immediately, I was able to recognize who was friend or foe. A small group of people had horrified looks on their faces, while the rest were giving disgusting smiles that sent chills down my spine.

A moment later, demons were running up the stairs, trying to get to me. Several of Lisa's group were clinging to them, trying to keep them back. In the brief moment I knew I had, I turned once again to Lisa.

"Go check on James and Dan. Sebastian and I can take care of them."

"Chrystal-"

"Go!" I shouted. She sighed and disappeared.

I turned just in time to raise my swords. As soon as I did, a man ran into it and skewered himself on one.

Sebastian pushed him off, and I heard the man fall to the ground as I swung my sword at another who had gotten too close.

The landing was becoming packed with people, all of them wanting to get their hands on me. I assumed some of them were demons, but I couldn't be sure. I wasn't able to sense them, but based on their movements, they couldn't have been human.

But I was more concerned with the fact that people were still running up the stairs, trying to get to me when there was clearly no room for them to. I wouldn't be able to use my swords if it got too cramped.

"Sebastian!" I shouted suddenly. "Block off the stairs!"

He didn't say anything, probably because it would just waste time. He jumped onto the railing and ran across it, then jumped gracefully onto the steps, blocking the path of the people who had yet to make it to the landing.

I lost count of how many people I fought off. Most of them didn't seem to have any interest in hurting me. They got close enough to be within range of my swords, and then stopped, waiting for me to push them back. I wanted to think about what it might have meant, but there were too many of them to let myself get sidetracked. I needed to focus. Some of these people were out to kill.

A tall man in a dirty white shirt with unkempt hair somehow made it past my swords, and I lifted my leg and kicked him hard in the center of his chest. He fell back onto others behind him, but not before grabbing my ankle and pulling me down with him.

I let out a yelp of surprise as I fell, then one of pain as one of my swords fell and sliced a gash in my leg. Several others also cried out, as I wasn't able to control where my swords landed. This did not deter them, though. Everyone on the landing rushed forward, trying to get to me. They pinned me to the ground and stomped on my hands, causing me to cry out again and release my swords. They were instantly scooped up by the intruders.

I closed my eyes, bracing myself for the blade I was expecting to pierce my skin, but it never came. I opened them a long moment later, only to see several faces staring down at me. Another moment passed, then they all glanced up at something in unison. I followed their gaze, and immediately wished I hadn't.

A tall man with long black hair and unfamiliar blood red eyes was staring down at me. As soon as our eyes met, his brightened, and I found I couldn't look away from them. No, I thought, knowing what was happening. No, I don't want this. Where's Sebastian?! Surely he could see what was happening. Why wasn't he helping me?

The demon above me smiled as I felt all of my willpower fading away. I have to fight this! I told myself, but I barely heard it. I wanted this. I wanted him to take me away. What had I just been doing?

The man before me waved his hand, and I felt the people holding my body release me and back away.

"Sit up," he told me.

I sat up, my eyes never leaving his.

He smiled again, and I felt myself return it. Suddenly, he let out a loud laugh, and he spoke to someone elsewhere, but never took his gaze away from mine. "Just a bit longer, and she'll be all mine. Tell me, what does it feel like to watch the one you love be taken from you?"

I could hear his words, but I couldn't comprehend anything he was saying. My mind was emptying of all thoughts, and my heart was beginning to long for the man in front of me to hold me. Someone yelled something, but I didn't care who they were talking to or what they were talking about. All I cared about was staring into this man's eyes.

"That's it, Chrystal, just a little bit more. Then I'll take you far away from here. It'll be just you and me."

I felt my smile widen. Nothing else mattered. I would go anywhere with this man.

He reached out his hand. "That should be long enough. Come with me, Chrystal." He then directed his words elsewhere again, but his eyes never left mine. "Watch this, Sebastian. I'm going to make your love mine."