I felt sorry for Kiyo just then. Her Death of Light affinity should have been perfect for a game of cat and mouse, but my refined Mimic made her slender outline as plain as day to me, though it was a tad fuzzier than normal. Probably interference from the fabricata batteries on the roof. She had ducked into a darkened electronics store, tucking herself away in a dark corner between the smartphone display and the wall.

“Kiyo?” She gave no response, but I didn’t need my magic to hear her frantic breathing from behind the counter. I took a few steps closer, making as much noise as I could. I didn’t want to startle her. “I know you’re there.”

“Yeah, I heard you coming a mile away,” she said. She peeked over the countertop, her eyes peering out from under her beret. “Why did you do it?”

“Do what, my-”

“Throw in with the goddamn Holy Brotherhood! I can’t believe you made me say it!” She dropped out of sight. “You doused me right at the start of the fight, and I know you threw my aim off!”

“You have me there,” I said, hunkering down on the opposite side of the counter. “I’m here to bring you back. They promise that you’ll be fine if you cooperate.”

“They’re monsters, Soren! Whatever they promised you, you aren’t going to get it!”

“Oh, I have my ways of making sure they live up to their deal. Nothing’s going to happen to you.”

“I’m not worried about me, you idiot! All the students, and the Headmaster! I just… I’m…” She slammed her fist into the tiled floor. “I don’t know what to say to you right now.”

“Take your time, my dear.”

“I don’t have the words, and you’re supposed to be there to figure out what I’m thinking.”

“Another line of the boyfriend/girlfriend contract?” I asked, chuckling weakly.

After a long silence, she spoke up again. “I didn’t think you were a traitor.”

It just went to show she never knew me. “I’m practical.”

“I thought you’d know better, being a cutie… screw it, being a demonkin, after what the Horde did to you. What, you wanted to hook up with the other evil army?”

“Once I get three punches, I get a free ice cream sundae,” I replied.

That set her off. Leaping over the counter, she landed in front of me. I flinched away at her fury. “This isn’t funny! None of this is funny! Soren, they’re awful people, and you’re helping them do heinous shit.”

“They said they’d spare you all if I helped,” I said. “They have the Headmaster, and they can topple the Tower any time they like. I didn’t have a choice.”

“Yes, you did. There’s always a choice!” She choked back a sob. “What about what we always said? You and me against the world! There were three of them and four of us!”

“They’ve got more wizards than you know about,” I replied. “We’re just students. We need to stand down.”

Kiyo’s slap didn’t sting much. Physically, at least. “What the heck is wrong with you? You feel like Soren, so why don’t you sound or act like him?”

“Maybe you don’t know me as well as you thought,” I said. “There’s nothing to be gained fighting a useless battle. Sometimes you have to know when to give in. It’s why I’m here today.”

“For what? If you’re going to just be a wimp, then what’s the point of living?”

Because there was a spot in the lake of fire waiting for me, and I wanted to delay that as long as I could. Our Father Below did not approve us rogue devils’ invasion of the Earth, and we had been told not to expect a hero’s welcome.

“There’s no point in fighting. The choice has already been made, Kiyo,” I said, rubbing my cheek. “They caught Rose and Yukiko.”

“And Mariko,” she said. “What, you’re going to just abandon her God-knows-where?”

I almost wished I had. “I’ll make sure she’s taken care of. Are you going to come quietly? I can make sure you’re comfortable.”

Her expression softened as she reached out, pressing my hand against my reddening face. “Soren, please. You’re the bravest guy I know. You jumped down a mountain for me. You saved my life when that Haru guy nearly stung us to death.”

“You’re missing the important part,” I said, my voice quavering more than I’d have liked. “It was always for you. I’m a damn coward, but you make me abandon my sense. Don’t throw all of my hard work away playing hero!”

“I don’t care,” she said. “I’d rather die than let them rule us, and that’s what they want! If you don’t have a better idea, we can figure something out together. They think you’re on their side, right? We can surprise them.”

Haru’s face flashed through my mind unbidden. “I’ve gone to an awful lot of trouble for you. Committed crimes that can never be forgiven. It’s too late for me here.”

She shook her head forcefully. “No way. It can’t be that bad. And if it is, so what? I’m not going to love you any less.”

“What if I’m a fugitive the rest of my life?”

“Then I’ll be Mrs. Fugitive. I always wanted to travel more. C’mon Magpie, it’s you and me against the world! We’ll make those Holy Brothers sorry they were ever born.” Kiyo held out her hand to me, her dark, soulful eyes looking at me expectantly.

I reached out for her, but stopped short. “You really mean that, don’t you? You’d throw your whole life away for me.”

“Of course,” she said.

She was sincere, I had to give her that. Stupidly brave, too. Still, I could never deny my little Angel. I clasped her hand, and she helped me to my feet. At least, as much as she could, with our difference in weight. “Let’s be off.”

She dug in her heels. “Wait, we need a plan first.”

“Oh, that’s easy,” I replied. “We act like you surrendered and play it by ear. Once we’re among them, they’re bound to let down their guard.”

“You make it sound so easy,” said Kiyo.

“Oh, it is. It worked on you, after all. Lechtar.”

Her body jerked as just the right charge of electricity passed through her body to knock her out. Twitching, she fell into my arms.

“You nearly convinced me,” I said, catching her as gently as I could, enjoying one last embrace. “It’s a shame I love you too much to let you throw away your life for me.”