Colin's posts

"..." Hal was silent as Anya said that.

"Noted." he said.

"I very highly doubt I will take advantage of that... or HER..." he then told her.

"Quite frankly, if Erica is guarding information, then... that is her business. I have no right to pry or take advantage of her in such a vulnerable state." he went on, before pausing.

"Unless you feel there is something specific that I should ask her." he commented.

"Do you?" he asked.

Hal leaned forward and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"...great." he said.

"As if poor Erica didn't have enough problems in her life." he grumbled.

"Well, I wish you even MORE luck, then." he told her.

"Because odds are... you're going to need it, and then some." he reasoned, before pausing again, and sighing deeply.

"...damn it." he muttered.

"And Azazel must be taking this hard as well." he added.

Hal nodded.

"Very well." he said.

"Erica is considered on extended sick leave, anyway." he told her. "But I'll make sure Azazel is exempt as well." he assured her.

He then sighed as well, and looked her in the eyes.

"...I don't know the full extent of what's going on, but I wish you luck, Anya." he said.

"Please don't bite off more than you can chew."

Hal was silent for a moment, and nodded.

"I see." he said.

"Very well." he told her.

"I'm glad I was able to help... assuming I did." he said further.

"Is there anything else I can do to assist?" he asked.

"Shall I contact Zeke, if nothing else so he may contact his father?" he asked her further, before pausing.

"...though you can probably just do that yourself, admittedly."

Hal raised an eyebrow.

"Balphagor?" he asked.

"Oh dear." he said.

But he then snapped his fingers, to grant her wish.

Demonic mana was strong, but it wasn't the be-all-end-all. Anya didn't get exact information, but she got flashes of it... and she got enough that she could pinpoint where he was hiding.

She knew he was in Europe. In France, in Paris. She saw the building and the area.

Hal was silent for a moment, before nodding.

"For Erica? Yes." he said.

"Of course." he told her.

"I would do anything to help her, keep her safe." he went on.

"...and if YOU'RE coming to me for this, it MUST be serious." he then said grimly.

"So by all means. Make your wish." he finished, raising his hand and putting his fingers together, waiting for her to speak.

Jake and Izea watched her head off, and the latter sighed.

"REALLY hope this isn't anything too big or concerning." he said.

"...but hope springs eternal, and it's usually the denial of reality." he muttered.

Meanwhile, Hal was in his office, getting a few things done, when his receptionist buzzed him to let him know that Anya was there.

"Send her in." he said.

She then stepped through the door, and he gestured for her to take a seat.

"...." Jake was silent, before growling slightly.

"Yeah, I generally know what THAT means." he said, before looking to Izea.

"Usually that language means demon business." he told her.

"...and quite frankly, the less specifics we know, the better." he mumbled.

At that point, Izea received a fast and short email response from Sharp, obviously in his office.

Send her up. it read.

"Told you, to toss the carcass so the scavengers can feast!" Ryker called back.

"And yeah, sure! Pack up if you want to!" he yelled further.

"I'll be back in a couple minutes!" he finished, as the thunder crashed again.

"...geez." he then muttered.

"Storm's comin' outta nowhere, suddenly."

If she was expected Jake to not be there, she was wrong.

Because he was there. As was Izea.

Jake was talking to her, before looking over towards Anya.

"Hey Anya." he greeted her.

"What's up?" he asked, before noticing her expression.

"You look concerned." he commented. "Something up?"

Azazel nodded in response.

"Yes. Yes, I should be good. I've calmed down considerably." he assured her.

"As for you... if you can find some way to get the upper hand on Balphagor, please. Do it." he told her.

"...but please don't unnecessarily risk yourself." he then added.

"I can't do anything right now... so the best thing for me is to stay here and possibly try and fight off anyone that tries to come here to hurt or take Erica." he reasoned, looking at the woman once more.

"...something tells me we don't have much time, though..."

"........" Azazel was silent, and sighed.

"You're right, you're right." he said.

"And that's true. He wouldn't know you." he agreed.

"You'd fly under his radar." he reasoned.

He then forced himself to calm down, taking deep breaths and exhaling slowly.

"Right... right... I'm good." he assured her.

"No, but it's the best way to go about it, as you said." Azazel replied.

He then sighed, and leaned forward a little, shaking his head.

"But that's all dependent on if you and Roxie are willing to try." he said.

"Because Lilim sure isn't." he told her.

"Hell, she straight up just told me to give up and let him have Erica." he growled.

"Yeah, no." he said, more venom in his tone towards Lilim in his voice than Anya had ever heard from him before.

Azazel looked to seriously be in thought right now.

"...that's right." he said.

"He's... he's still susceptible to charm." he told her.

"Actually, if I recall correctly, Lilith toyed with him in the past. Charmed him and then rejected him." he continued.

"I remember seeing it happen while I was Lilim's... pet..." he then mumbled at the end.

"So there's a very real chance he can be manipulated that way."