Cataclysm by Karice Bolton

room.
    “That’s me, and you are?” Cyril’s voice caught a little, probably completely distracted with the thought of Arie.
    “I’m helping out with things for the next little while. Arie actually contacted me about helping with some of the strategy and using information that I had collected on Azazel,” he started. “Right before she was taken.”
    “Ah, makes sense. Well, I think you’ll get to meet her soon. She’s gotta be on this floor or something.” Cyril’s lips finally showing the smile that we had missed. “She’s definitely around here,” he continued.
    “We’ve got a plan for that, Cy,” Athen began, sitting on the couch. Cyril followed.
    “Do you know which suite she’s in?” Cyril’s voice was so full of eagerness I could almost taste it. The knot in my stomach kept growing.
    “We do, buddy,” Athen sighed, looking over at me. “But there’s something we’ve got to tell you before we go get her. It’s not going to be easy to hear.”
    Cyril shot up from the couch, pillows tumbling to the floor.
    “Is she okay?” Cyril asked. This was horrible. His emotional rollercoaster was only getting prolonged.
    “Yes!” I exclaimed. “She’s fine, perfect – really.”
    Trying again, I looked over at Athen for support. He nodded and gestured for Cyril to sit back down.
    “Before Arie was taken away, she asked me to do something for her. She had been fairly certain that demons were following you, trying to coax you to their side. Judging by who you were talking to this afternoon, I’d say she guessed accurately.” I realized that I had taken a breath and hadn’t released it out yet. Making myself breathe, the air slowly trickled out of my mouth, as I tried to formulate everything very carefully.
    “Arie was worried that you might sacrifice yourself for her safety. She felt that they might’ve made some progress with you, especially with the mind control that started happening with others.” I paused, letting my words sink in as best as they could. “Noah, in fact, has experienced Azazel’s trickery.”
    “What are you telling me, Ana?” Cyril scooted forward on the couch.
    “She thought that if she was out of the picture, and you were focused on getting her back, that you might ignore all the demon’s attempts and mind tricks. She was hoping your energy would be focused on getting her back.” I stopped, looking over at Cyril. There wasn’t any hint of anger in his eyes, only fear.
    Athen decided to start explaining for which I was so grateful, especially with the scene that had happened outside earlier. I looked over at Noah, who stared intently at Cyril, probably wondering why Cyril wasn’t exploding yet.
    Cyril began wringing his hands together. His lips were tightly shut.
    “She asked me to take you to the families around here who had lost a family member in the same manner that Azazel and his followers were coming after you with.” Athen’s body stiffened, as he sensed Cyril’s uneasiness with the words that were landing on him from every direction.
    “I’d give anything to protect Arie. I’d never do anything to put her in harm’s way. I don’t understand.” Cyril sounded broken and confused. How Arie didn’t come running out of the bedroom, I didn’t know.
    “We know that. She knows that. And that’s why she did what she thought was best. She put everything in place, like her brother did.” I pointed at Athen. “She placed ten times as many memsors everywhere. She was overly cautious. She found a group of brand-new minions to…”
    Cyril interrupted and sprung up in a flash.
    “A group of minions to do what?” The anger finally filled up his body.
    “She sacrificed herself, to save you,” Athen stood now too. “My sister threw herself to the dark ones in hope that it would save you. Buy you some time to get hold of yourself. Not fall into one of Azazel’s traps that you couldn’t get out of.”
    Noah spoke up, “I’ve seen firsthand what