The cell door slid open and shut; she was alone again. Virta's body lay twitching on the floor.
She was down there for what seemed like hours - bleeding, in pain, and waiting for the next sound of footsteps outside her door.
The lady named Pearl would show up anytime now.
But first, the TV came on. They had started making her watch TV just hours after she'd first gained consciousness.
Though she didn't want to watch, she couldn't seem to pry her eyes from the screen. She wanted to hold her ears, but she couldn't help but listen. Always, it was the same stuff over and over.
They showed Virta doing illegal things that could get her on the radar for Banishment. She didn't remember doing any of the things on the film. But there she was, stealing documents from the Office, defacing Government property, or using a stolen pass-card to get into areas where she had no clearance.
They started showing video footage of Athan as well.
She had watched hungrily, soaking in every bit of him that she could. But when it became apparent what he was really doing in these recordings, she tried not to watch or listen. It was in vain, however.
Athan looked virtually the same in the videos as he had to her on the golden street: impressively handsome with his tousled dark hair, muscular body, and narcotic black eyes. In some of the footage, he had longer hair or facial hair, or was wearing different types of clothing. No matter the style, he was sublime; glorious even.
Most of the filming was done on Earth. Athan was shown in battle: killing and maiming, or out with his gang of men having fun... hurting people, hurting angels.
One scene in particular haunted her: this was a modern time, on Earth. Judging from the setting, she guessed it was taken in the last ten years.
He was dressed very much like she'd seen him in Heaven. He wore a black T-shirt, but had on black pants instead of jeans.
The look on his face was cold sober, as he leaned against the building. It looked as if he was waiting on someone or something to come along. Then, from the vantage point of the camera lens, Virta watched Athan dissolve into the shadows so that he was virtually invisible.
Suddenly, she came into view.
It was a tiny, young woman about twenty years old, with long blonde hair and chocolate brown eyes. A human. And she was alone.
The girl walked quickly down the sidewalk, glancing nervously around her. Her big brown eyes clearly showed her fright. Virta noticed that the girl's face had bruises and cuts.
Suddenly, Athan was in front of her.
No matter how many times Virta watched that segment -- and they showed it at least twice per day -- she never saw him move from the shadows to the girl. He was just that fast.
Virta feared what Athan was going to do. This was the evil Athan she hadn't known, the nasty demon with all those years of cruel deeds and treachery in his past. The only experience she had with him was those few minutes on the street.
"Athan," the girl whispered in surprise and fear. She was shaking as she craned her neck to look up at the strapping demon in front of her.
"That's me," he said with a slight smile, his voice light and cheerful.
"How you doing right now, Rose?" His tone and his face showed that he was mocking her fear.
She glanced down at the sidewalk. "Don't play with me, Athan," she muttered.
Athan moved a hand toward Rose's neck. Virta automatically flinched at the same time as the girl. It reminded her of how Athan had first touched her on the golden street. Sure enough, he put one thick finger under Rose's chin and forced her to look up at him.
For a moment, Virta thought this was one of his recruitees, perhaps another of his converts to Hell. Someone else he thought had "potential". But it was doubtful. If he was trying to woo her over to the Dark Side, this obviously was the wrong way to go about it. Rose was visibly shaking with terror.
Then, she made a break for it. But he had her by the arm instantly, a smirk sliding across his beautiful face.
Clutching her arm with his hand, Athan dragged her over to the side of the building and slammed her up against it. Rose's back hit the bricks, and she grunted as the air was knocked out of her lungs. Before she could double over, Athan's big hand was on the center of her chest, pinning her to the wall.
His voice sent chills down Virta's back. He sounded so menacing... evil.
"You thought you could get away from me, huh, Rose. You thought I wouldn't find you?"
Rose didn't answer. She was looking about wildly for an escape.
"Don't even think about it, Rose."
She tried to knee him in the groin, and he blocked her move. He shook his head like he was scolding a child.
"I didn't even have to be a mind reader to know that was coming," he sneered at her.
Athan leaned casually against the wall, one hand braced against it. The other hand was gently stroking Rose's shoulder.
The way of escape was open right in front of her. But he didn't look the least bit concerned that she might take off running. She just stood with her back against the wall, letting it hold her up on her unsteady legs.
"Look at you shaking. Poor little thing. You know it's hopeless, right?" he taunted her.
Rose's breath was ragged, but her face grew furious. "Go to Hell, Athan," she hissed.
He looked at her for a moment, and then started laughing.
"Oh, I will, lover," he said. "But not tonight."
The big hand on Rose's shoulder slid slowly across her upper chest, winding its way languidly up her delicate neck, until it stopped to linger on her bruised cheek. She flattened herself more tightly against the wall; her eyes shut; her chest heaving to get air in and out.
He stroked his fingers gently down her face. To anyone else, it would have looked like a sweetheart's caress.
"You look so much prettier to me now," he said, peering down at her injured face. "I think my men did some fine work on you. The bruises, the wounds... I've gotta say, it really turns me on."
Her eyes snapped open and she gasped in horror at his words; she tried to jerk her head away from his touch. He didn't seem to notice her struggles as he continued to delicately caress her.
Then, without warning, he swooped down to crush her lips with his own.
He completely blocked the camera's view of her body with his much, much larger one.
He finally pulled away, turning to lean his own back against the wall, a couple of feet between their bodies. Rose was visibly flushed, and she was panting. She didn't stand there but a second before she made another dash for safety.
He rolled his eyes and heaved a sigh. Then he pushed off of the wall and went after her.
She was grabbed and pulled back up the sidewalk. He flung her to the ground with flourish.
Athan stood over her while she struggled to make it to her feet.
"You do know you can't get away from me, right?"
"What are you going to do, Athan?" Her voice was ragged, breathy. "Stop playing with me, and just get on with it!"
He glared down with his impossibly dark eyes.
Virta could plainly see Rose's body was shaking, her breathing was heavy, and her eyes were wide with fear as she looked up at the dangerous demon.
"Leave me alone," Rose cried. "I've got an appointment. They're expecting me now."
"I guess they're just going to have to wait. That is, if they think you're worth the wait."
She sat scowling up at him, her hands clenched into fists.
A dark shadow crossed over his face. He leaned down and jerked her up to her feet, walking her backwards until she was up against the wall once again.
Athan began sliding his hands up and down the sides of her body, brushing over the slight curves. He murmured seductively in her ear.
"I know somewhere we can go where they'll never find us. We'll have all the time in the world. I can do whatever I want... for as long as I want."
"Let me go NOW, or I'll scream."
"I'm counting on it," he said, his smile playful. "But not here, not now."
He ran a deceptively gentle hand over Rose's cut, battered lips.
"Keep your mouth shut, Rose, or I'll permanently shut it for you."
It horrified Virta how such violent words could be delivered on such a silken, comforting voice.
Rose started to say something, then catching the evil look in his eye, she closed her mouth.
"That's a smart girl."
He immediately hauled her up, slinging her over his shoulder. Then, silent as a cat, he carried her away into the darkness.
The screen went black, leaving Virta nauseous, wondering what Athan did to Rose. What had been the girl's fate?
The TV wasn't blank for long. The screen flickered, and then images and sounds began to run once again.
The date on the video file said 4,000 B.C.
Virta could see that the location was inside U-Sec. Athan sat at a table in an interrogation room. He wore shackles on both hands and feet. Armed guards stood against the wall behind him.
He was wearing a garment something like the one they'd issued her back in the cell. His robe was ripped, dirty, and bloody. It looked like he'd been beaten very hard on his stunning face. And everywhere else she could see, for that matter.
A low voice from behind the camera was asking him questions:
"Once more, tell us what you did to the humans living in the valley where the skirmish took place?"
The look in Athan's dark eyes was distant, blank, as if his vision wasn't focused in the room, but somewhere far away.
"We took off the men's heads and hung them up on poles to dry in the sun," he said without emotion.
"And... then?"
"Then, I... sliced up the babies with my sword."
There were muffled voices off camera, and then Athan spoke again.
"Yes, Sir. Me and my men - we ripped open the pregnant women. And the children... we hurled stones at them, killing them."
Virta clutched at her hair with shaking hands. Tears ran down her face as she watched and listened.
