"Sorry," Asmodeus mumbled, disappearing into the bathroom.
Brianna counted to ten. She had a new plan rolling around in her head. She'd get her and Kelly out of this mess soon enough. Well, Kelly anyway. Her own future wasn't looking too great, not after that telling vision last night. If she effectively summoned Michael he might be able to help her with her dilemma.
"Come on, Brianna. Let's get the hell out of here. I'll find a way out of these necklaces."
Raum slowly shook his head. "If Asmodeus put the necklace on you, he has to be the one to take it off."
Kelly squared off in front of Raum. "You obviously don't know me very well. I do whatever it takes to get things done."
Brianna rolled her eyes. If Kelly kept talking like that they'd never get out of here alive. She tried rubbing her wrists, but it hurt too much. Her skin was raw.
Asmodeus came out of the bathroom and saw her tending her wrists. She let go of her wrists, not wanting him to see he had hurt her. She had to remain strong or she was going to lose it in front of everybody.
Before she realized what he was doing, he kneeled in front of her and took her hands in his. The pain disappeared.
In that moment she didn't know if she was frightened of him or drawn to him. His show of concern for her wounds disconcerted her. She didn't know how to respond.
"There's something I want to show you. Meet me in the library."
Before she could say a word Kelly barked at Asmodeus, "In case you didn't know, we're leaving. Now."
Asmodeus, still kneeling, glanced over her shoulder. "You're leaving. Now. Raum, take her out of my presence."
"Sure thing."
"What? Let go of me." Kelly smacked Raum's hands away, but she wasn't fast enough. He hauled her out of the room with ease.
Now alone with Asmodeus, Brianna felt awkward. Nothing was as it seemed between them. He was on the defensive, and she was stuck in her forced offensive struggle against time.
For a moment she considered telling him everything. The angels who summoned her, the mission they gave her, and the fiasco with the Nephilim. Could he help her? Would he help her?
He didn't give her the chance. He stood and walked to the door, his black silk pajama bottoms clinging to the muscles in his legs.
"I'll be waiting for you in the library."
She only nodded, knowing the moment had passed. It would be so easy to slip into hopelessness. Despair tugged at her spirit. She felt like calling her mom in Indiana, asking her advice, though there would be none to give.
Jesus, she might never see her mom again.
"Brianna?"
She wiped her eyes and faced Valencia who stood in the doorway. "Yes?"
"Would you like something to eat?" Valencia asked.
"No, thank you."
"Are you all right? Is there anything else you need?"
Valencia had the ethereal appearance of an angel, her long, dark auburn hair cascading down her back, her cheeks flush and bright. Brianna's preconceived notions on demons were shattering all around her. "No."
"I'll be downstairs if you need anything."
Brianna choked down a sob. She left Valencia standing in the doorway as she made her way into the bathroom. She couldn't do this anymore. She wasn't a liar or a schemer, which was why everything was falling apart around her. She wasn't a killer, even if that decision meant death and torture for herself.
She shut the bathroom door and broke down, sliding down the door, hoping none of the demons could hear her, but knowing full well they could.
Everything seemed hopeless, and she couldn't do anything about it. Nothing could be done about her situation. The angels had set her up for failure, and fail she would.
She would accept her fate.
There was no other choice available.
Brianna's head pounded something fierce. She had taken Valencia up on her offer and had gone downstairs asking for aspirin. She now stood with her hand on the doorknob to the library. She couldn't imagine what Asmodeus wanted to show her. Everything had gone wrong last night, leaving him suspicious of her motives, with good reason.
There was no chance he would believe anything she said now, and she couldn't blame him for that. She blamed herself for lying and her attempts to manipulate him.
She slowly turned the knob and opened the door. Not knowing what to expect made her headache worse.
She closed the door behind her. Asmodeus sat behind the large oak desk. He must have showered and dressed in another room. He wore a white collared shirt left completely unbuttoned, teasing her with his masculine form, and his hair was wet. He looked up as she made her way to the desk.
It would be easy to see herself liking this man if they had met under different circumstances. He was intelligent, gorgeous, and he carried himself well. He had an analytical way of thinking that she admired, a trait she had always wished to possess. She was finally seeing the man, not the demonic façade he tried so hard to convey at times.