"Don't worry about him," Belial said, comfortingly, but with a deadly edge in his voice. "I won't let him trouble you."

He looked down at Ellie, expression tender and sympathetic. "I know how you feel. Sometimes I stand outside, on the Manor lawn at night and look at all the stars, and know that if I take too many more steps towards the trees, or the road, or anywhere else, I might get snatched up."

There were things that Ellie wasn't telling him, he was sure, but he wouldn't push his luck with her. If she told him, it would be in her own time.