Cordelia released James’s wrist. “I know everything,” she said. Her voice was very level. There was something different about her, James thought, something he could not quite put his finger on. She had changed—since yesterday, even. But then, she had lost her father. Her family would never be the same.

“It’s ridiculous,” Matthew said, sliding off the sofa back. “James, you can’t really believe—”

“I understand why he believes it,” Cordelia said, and Matthew stopped mid-motion. Every face in the room was turned to Cordelia. “There were two things I thought when I met Belial. First, that I would do anything in the world to get away from him. And second, that it would not matter what I did, because his focus was entirely on James. It has been for some time now. If there is a way he can reach him… he will.”

“But James is not a murderer,” said Lucie. “He would never—”

“I don’t think he’s one either,” said Cordelia. “If Belial is controlling him, then none of this is his fault. He cannot be blamed. Any of us would do the same, for the power of a Prince of Hell—” She shook her head. “It is unstoppable.”

“I tried to stop myself, last night,” James said. “And still somehow I woke with the ropes in pieces all around me.”

“You cannot do this alone,” said Cordelia. “In fact, if we are to prove anything at all about what is really going on, you cannot be alone for a moment.”

“She is right,” Anna said. “We will remain here tonight, keeping watch. If you try to leave the house, we will know.”

“Not if he tries to get out the window,” Christopher pointed out, reasonably.

“We nail it shut,” said Thomas, getting into the spirit of the thing.

“And someone sits with James. Lets him sleep, but watches what happens,” said Matthew. “I’ll do it.”

“It might be better if Cordelia did it,” James said quietly.

Matthew looked a little hurt. “Why?”

“Because I have Cortana,” said Cordelia. “I have wounded Belial with Cortana before; if necessary, I suppose…” For the first time she looked doubtful. “I could do so again.”

“Indeed,” said James. “She can strike me down if necessary.”

“Certainly not!” exclaimed Lucie, bolting to her feet. “There will be no striking down of anyone!”

“Except Belial,” remarked Christopher. “If he makes an appearance—on his own, you know, not inside James, as it were.”

“Just wound me, then,” James said to Cordelia. “Stab me in the leg if you need to. The left one, if you can—I’m fonder of my right.”