Belial let his grip on Beelzebub go slack, hands hanging limp by his side, and stepped back. The demon before him slid down the wall and looked up at him from the floor, eyes still wide, but noticably more calm the instant Belial had released him.

"Don't be stupid," he snapped at Beelzebub. "You never were an idiot, no matter how much I hate what you stand for."

He turned to Ellie, stepping to her and resting his hand between her shoulders, head bowed and said, "Come, I'm sorry you saw this."