Tobias didn't even seem phased by Roxie's sudden transformation.

Instead, he started to laugh. It was low at first, more like a dark chuckle, but it soon turned into outright laugher, like he was finding this situation genuinely hilarious at the moment.

"This is perfect!" he exclaimed.

"Absolutely perfect!" he continued.

"Look at you! You're exotic! You're otherworldly! You're... you're just what I need!" he told her.

"You'll be a perfect addition!" he continued, standing up.

As soon as she did that, she saw his eyes alight with pleasure... the sensation threatening to overwhelm him... before something pulsed from the ring on his finger, causing the tendrils to be blown back, and for him to regain his senses.

".....so." he said.

"Was that your hail mary plan?" he asked.

"Because it failed." he told her.

"You are nothing before me."

Tobias stood up and started to make his way towards her. As he did, he raised the hand that had the ring on it, and it started to pulse with mana. Strong mana.

The mana caused what she felt in the cabinet to slip out of a demonic hole that formed on it, and come to him, allowing him to grasp it in his hand.

Also, the pulses were started to overwhelm her. Not in a sense that she felt ready to collapse or pass out, but she was finding it hard to get her bearings. To really comprehend what was going on.

"My dear." he said.

"My dealings are my business." he told her.

"Do not speak ill of my benefactress."

Tobias just smirked a little as he looked at her.

"This accessory... will be perfect for you." he said, starting to put the black pendant around her neck.

Meanwhile, Azazel had told Sharp that Tobias was more than he seemed, and he promised he would keep an eye and ear out for more missives from Roxie. However, he had decided that he needed some time to relax and recharge himself a bit, even though he didn't need it. It was more a psychological thing.

As such, he and Aedan were in bed together, with Azazel in his unconscious state that mimicked sleep, and Aeden beside him doing something on her smartphone.

However, all of a sudden, Azazel eyes popped wide open.

"AAAH!!!" he let out a scream of sheer terror, as he immediately rose to a sitting position, breathing heavily.

Azazel was silent for a moment, gathering himself, before attempting to answer Aedan's question.

He looked towards her and chuckled nervously.

"Oh, sorry, sorry." he apologised.

"Guess I just had a bit of a nightmare, there." he told her, before pausing suddenly, as the words that escaped his mouth now registered.

"...wait a minute..." he mumbled.

"I... I had a nightmare." he said again, though there was now visible confusion in his tone and expression.

"I..." Azazel stammered.

"I don't... know." he said.

"I really don't know." he told her. "I don't even technically SLEEP, let alone DREAM." he went on.

"But... that's the best way I can explain it. A nightmare." he told her further.

"And it had to do with... Lilith." he then said.

"Like, it was static-y, and... well, I remember seeing Lilith... like she was standing in my way or something." he continued. "And there was this weird muted voice that I couldn't recognize or understand or anything." he added.

"No." Azazel replied.

"Maybe Lilith herself is messing with me?" he suggested.

"I'll check." he then said.

With that, he turned to the wall that was at the head of their bed, and opened a small portal to Hell. He poked his head in and looked around, his hands on the edge of the portal, before Aedan heard a distinct 'crack' sound, and saw Azazel's body shudder violently.

He was then still for a moment, before withdrawing from the portal and closing it, a nasty gash on his cheek now.

"Nope." he commented.

"She's busy torturing some poor sod that probably made a deal with her when he was alive." he said.

"....Lilim?" he asked.

"Maybe..." he mumbled.

"I guess I can try and contact her, see if I get through." he said.

He then closed his eyes and concentrated, sending a message out.

'Lilim?' he asked.

'Hey, it's Azazel, you there?'

Azazel opened one eye.

"No clue." he said.

'Can we talk?' Azazel then asked Lilim.

'Like, face to face?' he asked further.

'ASAP?' he added.

During this, he didn't realise JUST how bad his wound was, as he was starting to bleed... quite a bite from the gash on his cheek.

"......" Azazel was silent for a moment, before it dawned on him what she was talking about.

'Yeah, 15 works.' he sent to Lilim.

"Crap, sorry." he then apologised to Aeden.

"I forgot just how much damage the barbs on Lilith's whip do..." he admitted.

He then sighed, and shook his head.

"...wow. I actually forgot that." he then said quietly.

"Guess it shows I'm staring to move on from when I was her little slave-pet." he added, before pausing.

"Uh... so... should I just stay here, leave this needle in, what?" he asked her.