"I love the female form." Tobias replied.

"But I can't stand the fact that such a gorgeous creation rots away over time." he went on.

"It's an insult. And the women hate it as well." he told her.

"Why else would people complain about getting older, losing their looks, and spend small fortunes on things to reverse ageing?" he asked her.

"So... I preserve those that are at their peak, and are shining examples of their gender." he went on.

"Lilith offered me a deal to give me that power, and the time to do it."

Tobias just smirked in response.

"I know EXACTLY what the deal I made was." he told her. "I know what constitutes breaking or ending the deal, and I know what I paid for to have this." he said further.

"And what happens in my future is in MY hands." he continued.

"My dear, I've been doing this for a very... VERY... long time." he went on. "Yes, Tobias Lockwood is my real name... but legally speaking? I'm the latest in quite the long line of Tobias Lockwoods." he revealed.

"I haven't been caught yet. I've been suspected once or twice, but nothing's come of it. I'm still going strong, my dear... and nothing, most certainly not YOU... is going to st-" he continued, before there was a banging at the door.

"...what is it!?" he exclaimed in an angry tone. However, the banging continued a couple more times... before it suddenly stopped. Tobias didn't have a chance to even wonder what that was about, before the door started to split and break, as though it were literally growing apart, before it fell off the hinges, revealing Tannyll.

"You!" the master of the mansion exclaimed, as Tannyll merely rushed forward, lunging at Roxie and yanking the pendant off of her neck.

Tobias just growled at Roxie.

"It has not been broken for CENTURIES!" he exclaimed.

He then looked over at Tannyll, as the elf landed in a... less than graceful way. He rushed over and grabbed the boy, throwing him up against a nearby wall.

"You pathetic little runt." he growled.

"I should have known you would be a thorn in my side at some point." he said further.

"You always seemed different from the rest of my staff."

Tobias was silent for a moment, grabbing Tannyll by the neck... before looking at Roxie.

He let Tannyll drop to the floor, before putting his foot on the elf's chest, pinning him painfully to the floor.

"....no, I didn't." he said.

"But... if you wish to humour me, go right ahead." he told her.

"The process is nearing completion, anyway. If that is how you wish to spend your last breaths... then by all means." he finished.

Tobias narrowed his eyes.

"...is that so." he said.

"Well, good luck to them." he told her.

"I'll merely increase the intensity of the barrier around her. I'll make all who come in here forget why they even-" he started to say further, before there seemed to be a violent quake that shook the room.

"What the!?" he exclaimed.

"Who on earth could be-!?" he started to ask further, before a distant crash was heard in the distance.

"LOCKWOOOOOOOD!!!" a voice bellowed out in anger.

Tobias didn't recognise it... Tannyll didn't... but Roxie did.

Tobias looked at her, fury and anger in his eyes, before snatching the pendant from Tannyll. He kicked the elf's head, dazing him and possibly concussing him, before rushing towards Roxie.

"I will take you down before I go down!" he declared.

However, it seemed that Roxie's voice had been just loud enough for Azazel to pinpoint, because as Tobias got close enough to touch Roxie with the pendant, a hell-portal opened up in the ceiling, and Azazel came crashing down on him.

"...." he was silent, before turning his head and looking at Roxie.

"...seems I'm not too late." he commented.

Azazel looked shocked for a moment, before looking down at Tobias.

He stepped off of him and kicked him onto hit back, glowering down at him.

"All right, you..." he said.

"This ends now." he told him.

Tobias was silent for a moment, before chuckling lightly.

"You can't do anything to me." he responded.

"I have the power of Lilith on my side. Nobody can touch me!" he declared.

'...so THAT'S why I had that weird nightmare...' Azazel thought.

"Wha...?" Tobias stammered, upon seeing and hearing the newcomer.

"Who... who are you!?" he demanded.

Azazel seemed just as surprised as the man, as well.

"Lilim?" he addressed her.

"What are YOU doing here?" he inquired.

Azazel was silent for a moment, a brief feeling of fear creeping through his body.

He then gathered himself, and sighed.

"....yes." he said.

"Yes, that is the way it is." he told her.

"......and yes, one can argue that..." he then admitted quietly.

Tobias, meanwhile, just looked at Lilim.

"Why are you interfering!?" he asked her.

Tobias DID have certain protections. That much was true.

However, he had NO protections from Lilith... and her spawn.

Lilim seemed to easily have him in her grasp. And his eyes showed it.

He looked to be completely taken by her. Smitten with her, even.

"Oh?" he replied.

"I must say, you have intrigued me." he told her.