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C harlotte wound through the streets of the Hollywood Hills, trying to find her way back to downtown Los Angeles. The eye-catching black car she’d borrowed from Roman’s garage was exquisite. It reeked of wealth and power; the sleek design would make anyone envious of its owner.

She wasn’t an expert on cars, but she had a bad feeling it was worth a lot more money than she could ever earn in her lifetime. The word Noire was embroidered into the headrests, dash, and center console. The magnificent sweeping sky roof design gave the interior a spacious, open feel.

Definitely expensive.

Her body sank into the seat, the leather amazing against her body, but she only enjoyed the sensation for a second, a horrible feeling of panic washing over her—she’d just stolen a fallen angel’s car.

“Oh, no, you don’t,” she told herself sternly, sitting up straight, tightening her grip on the steering wheel.

She had to make sure Ava was okay. The image of her lying on the ground unconscious plagued her. She would get home, find Ava, pack their bags, and get out of Los Angeles as fast as possible. Then, she’d put as much distance between her and these angels and demons as she could. Charlotte could start again; she’d done it before. She knew how to have nothing and get by in this world, so this would be no different. They’d swing by and take Kate with them as well. There was no way she would leave that poor girl behind to have the baby alone. Yes, that was the plan, she told herself, feeling a little more confident.

Charlotte finally arrived, parking her expensive borrowed car in front of the rundown apartment building in her rundown neighborhood. It didn’t go unnoticed the way everyone was staring hungrily at the car as she closed the door, locking it with the central lock on the keys. Okay, Charlotte, in and out, easy peasy, she told herself, rushing into the building. She stopped in the lobby, repeatedly smashing the elevator button.

“Come on,” she murmured, feeling anxious.

The elevator was taking too long. They would know she was gone by now, so she had to move as fast as she could. Please be here, Ava. The door finally opened, and she hurried in, pressing the number three for her floor. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Charlotte was banging frantically on her apartment door. She noticed that someone had fixed the door.

“Ava, it’s me, Charlotte. Let me in.”

Silence answered her.

Charlotte turned the handle and stiffened as the door slowly opened. If there was one thing you didn’t do in this neighborhood, it was leave your apartment door unlocked. Something was very wrong.

She stepped into the apartment, immediately covering her mouth with her hand. Ava had lain unconscious the night Charlotte had been taken. Now, in Ava’s place was a small pool of dried blood on the floor. The tiny lounge room was still in disarray from the struggle with her abductors. Tears welled in her eyes. She knew Ava was gone. They must have taken her as well.

“My god, what do I do?” she whispered, tears escaping.

How was she going to find her? Charlotte didn’t even know where to look. She ran to her room, throwing open the door and pulling her suitcase out from under her bed, rushing around and throwing clothes into it. She hurried into the bathroom, grabbing her hairbrush and toiletries, trying not to look at Ava’s clothes piled in the corner near the shower.

Get it together, she told herself, trying to stop crying as she rushed back into her room, stuffing everything in the suitcase. She stood quickly, looking around the room. She didn’t own much—some clothes, no special items. The only thing of any value were two photos stuck up on her dresser mirror, one of her beloved Ya-Ya and another of Ava, Kate, and herself from Kate’s birthday earlier in the year. All three of them were smiling and happy, and it made her heart ache. She quickly took them off the mirror, placing them gently in the suitcase.

I must find her.

Charlotte knew she couldn’t leave without her best friend. Ava had to be with the demons, and God only knew what horrible things they were doing to her.

Charlotte didn’t know where the demons were or how to even start looking for them to find Ava. She came to the realization she’d have to go back to the angels… to Roman. The demons were their enemy, and they would know where to look. They found her, didn’t they? It was her only chance of finding her friend.

Okay, change of plan. Go back to the mansion, apologize profusely about taking the car, get them to find and rescue Ava, then break out again with Ava, go get Kate, and blow this joint.

“You can do this,” Charlotte told herself for the millionth time.

She finished stuffing the last of her belongings in the case, then dragged it into the lounge room and headed quickly into Ava’s room. Her friend would want her things once Charlotte got her back.

She ran to Ava’s wardrobe, dragging out her neon pink suitcase and throwing it on the bed. She rushed around the room, collecting all of Ava’s favorite clothes and belongings, including all the makeup scattered across the dresser, hastily stuffing it all in the suitcase and zipping it up. Charlotte pulled the bag off the bed and dragged it out of the room. She had only taken two steps out of Ava’s bedroom when she let out a scream, dropping the suitcase in front of her.

“So, you’re what all the fuss is about?”

Leaning against the doorway of the apartment, arms crossed over her chest, was a tall, hauntingly beautiful woman. Her white-blonde hair hung down to her waist, braids, plaits, and shimmering ribbons and beads wound throughout. The dark charcoal eyeliner she wore enhanced her pixie features and the deep emerald-colored eye makeup she wore.

Charlotte didn’t know who this woman was, but she could feel the power rolling off her as she casually stepped into the apartment. Charlotte cautiously took a step back.

“There’s nowhere to go, Charlotte. Lucifer requires your… assistance.” The woman paused, tilting her head and raking her eyes over Charlotte. “You will be coming with me,” she said, a small smile creeping across her face.

Charlotte shook her head. “If I say no?” she answered, slowly backing up into Ava’s room.

Ava had a handgun in the drawer next to her bed. If she could just get to it… Two more steps, and I’ll be in the room.

The deadly-looking silver-haired female took a step closer to Charlotte. “You don’t have a choice. Now, you can come quietly and unharmed, or we can try the other way.”

Charlotte took another step backward. “And what’s the other way?” she asked, swallowing hard and getting ready to run.

“You won’t like it, trust me.” She smirked as four men stepped around her, entering the apartment.

Charlotte knew immediately that they weren’t human. They were all tall, muscled, and beautiful, like the angels in Roman’s mansion, looking like they’d stepped out of a Greek myth. The only difference was these men, and the strange woman radiated nothing but danger and darkness. There was nothing friendly or comforting about any of them, and these dangerous men were making their way toward her.

Charlotte turned and bolted into the room. She threw herself at the bedside dresser, ripping the gun out of the top drawer. She took the safety off, thanking God that Ava had sat her down and taught her how to use the gun the day she’d brought it home.

It’s for our protection, girl , she’d said, all business in the kitchen, making Charlotte repeatedly put the safety on and off until Ava had been satisfied that in an emergency, Charlotte could get the gun and pop a cap in somebody’s ass if need be.

Charlotte spun, facing the door and letting out a yell as one man ran into the room. The sight of him coming at her scared her so much that she pulled the trigger without thinking, hitting him right between the eyes. He staggered but kept rushing toward her, so she pulled the trigger two more times, the sound hurting her ears, each shot making her jump in terror. The man fell to the ground in front of her, blood running onto the floor under him.

Oh my god, I killed someone. The thought jarred her. She was a kind, nonviolent person, and the thought she had just taken someone’s life shook her to the core. Yelling from the lounge room reminded her that the other men and the woman were still there.

Charlotte pushed the fear down, knowing that if they all entered the room, they would take her. She held her breath as she quickly stepped over the dead man, holding in a gasp as her foot slipped in the pool of blood. She quickly righted herself and held the gun up, facing the door, and moved toward it until the lounge room came into view. The blonde woman now stood dead center in the lounge room, the men on either side of her. She didn’t look angry. If anything, she looked bored.

Charlotte kept the gun pointed at them as she slowly came out of the room. “Don’t take a step closer. Anyone moves, and I will shoot. I mean it.” The gun shook in her hands as fear crept in.

The woman once again tilted her head, staring at Charlotte. “No, you won’t,” she told her as she took a step forward.

Charlotte panicked, aimed the gun at her head, and squeezed the trigger, slamming her eyes shut as she flinched at the sound of the shot. Slowly, she opened her eyes, only to be in shock at the eerie scene before her.

The mysterious woman had a small smile on her face, her hand raised in front of her, as her eyes glowed the same unnatural violet as Armaros’s when he used magic on her.

It was like time stood still. Between Charlotte and the woman, the bullet was just sitting there, floating mid-air, not moving.

I should have stayed with the angels , she thought, knowing there was nothing she could do against someone who wielded this much power. She must be a witch. Of course they were real as well. At this point, why not? Charlotte thought, frustrated.

What other supernatural things were out there that she didn’t know about?

“I wouldn’t do that again. You wouldn’t want to make me angry now, would you?” She dropped her hand, the bullet falling uselessly to the ground and rolling away. “Now, let’s try this again. You are coming with us, and you will not argue, shoot anyone else, or put up a fight. If you do any of these things, I will make you feel horrible pain, do you understand?”

Charlotte nodded helplessly, her arms falling to her sides and dropping the gun on the floor. She felt utterly defeated as the two men stalked past her, picking up the bags she had packed for her and Ava.

Anger swirled in her, the feeling surprising her. For the third time in a few days, she was being taken against her will to God knew where. Charlotte was sick to death of all this crap. People kidnapping her, people hurting her. The thing that angered her the most was she still was no closer to finding Ava. The thought frustrated her even more as the men pushed back past her with the luggage.

There was no point trying to fight them, though. She was going with them whether she wanted to or not.

Roman will come for me, her mind whispered as the witch walked toward her.

“This will only hurt for a second.” She smiled as she held up a dagger.

God help me.