Security (open) - Darius and Crew

She nodded.

"There is much you care for here and now."

She nodded.

"You are correct. There is much that I care for here and now. That doesn't mean that I'm going to throw my life away to make things easier for me. Part of caring is dealing with the pain that it brings."

"And yet, you came to me."

A tear began to fall from her eye.

"Then I'm sorry."

She looked up at Darius again.

"I did. And I'll end it, if I need to."

There was a threat there. It wasn't even subtle.

He smiled.

"But you can't. Not yet. Not for a while, yet. Not until you get what you want."

He smiled again, tilting his head.

"Tell me, Sheriff. Have you always been this selfish?"

She smiled.

"Tell me, Darius. Have you always been such a pretentious prick?"

He smiled.

"Yes, in fact. I have. I'll be waiting for you, Sheriff. Oh, and I did mean what I said. If you would like assistance with the rest of the Toreador, you only have to ask."

She smiled.

"I think I'll take my chances without your help, Darius. Something about dealing with demons just pisses me off."

He smiled.

"I'm not arrogant enough to call myself a demon."

She shook her head.

"He isn't. Truthfully. You should use his help."

She sighed and looked at Bethy.

"I appreciate that you're trying to help him, I really do. But in this? I'm sorry. I can't."

He smiled.

"You can. You're just afraid to."

She nodded.

"We will be here when you need us."

She rose and turned toward the door. Then she paused, looking back over her shoulder at the two of them.

"If I do this, will you let him go?"

He smiled at her.

"If you do this, I will do what I can to see that he is freed."

Her eyes were big and hopeful as she watched the woman turn back around.

For a moment, she looked like she might be considering it. In fact, she was considering his words. Then a new look came into her eyes -- one that would have had a lesser being trembling. Pure and utter hatred. She didn't even try to hide or mask it. Unadulterated hatred.

"You bastard," she hissed, her eyes, full of fury, met those of Darius. "What did he ever do to you to deserve this?"

He wasn't afraid. Not even a little bit. He met her eyes with a smile.

"You are asking the wrong questions, my dear Sheriff. It's not about Estaban. It never was. He, like so many others, is expendable. But it led me to you and that darling little demon you have living with you. Are you truly going to tell me that you've managed to avoid temptation again? You are an excellent liar, darling, but you're not half as good as you think you are."

His smile turned to more of a smirk with his last sentence.

She bit her lip and looked at Ra'idah. Really looked.

She shook her head, rather sadly.

"You're not as smooth, or as smart, as you think you are. Don't you think I know that you can end this any time that you want to? You just don't want to. For some reason, you want me and I haven't the faintest clue why. But you can't have me."

It was his turn to be surprised. But it was just a flicker of surprise in his eyes, his face never showing the expression at all.

"But I will have you, darling. It's only a matter of time. Maybe then, you'll understand why."

She bit her lip.

"Go home to your demon, Lady. I hope she gives you some comfort."

She stared hard at Elizabeth, then turned on her heel to head to the door.

"I hate you for this," she said very softly. So softly that they might not have heard the words from her lips.

He smiled to himself, reaching out to brush a hand through Elizabeth's hair.

"I know. In time, that will change."