Within Temptation

Three (The King of Pain)

In one week's, time his memories returned.

The dreams that plagued him for two years were remnants of the past. Yumi Amaterasu failed to realize he'd been around for centuries; a simple memory potion would have minimal effect. He sits behind his deck at Paradise leaning back against the chair. What next? The question hung in the air, now that he was an Incubus again the answer seemed obvious and painfully so. No, he needed to think outside the box.

"Everything okay, boss?"

Roth's concern made him smile; the gentle giant was ferociously loyal to him. He admired that about him. Upon his completed transition Lilith relinquished her hold on Paradise. Her place was at their master's side. He restored the club back to its former glory. Was everything truly alright? They both knew the answer to that. There was a crucial part missing, the Queen to his King of Hell.

"Have you checked on Corrine?"

He had sent her a single message in one week's, time. She checked on him daily. She'd sent him her set from The Torii Gate. Her voice soothed the rage in his blood. His thoughts were beginning to settle on revenge. He wanted Ashley to pay for sabotaging his relationship with Corrine every step of the way.

You know what they say about revenge Andrew.

His conscience takes on the form of Corrine. She stands in the corner her arms crossed over her chest. She fixes him with her signature glare. The sight makes his heart skip.

"I have, she's doing well boss." He bows his head. "Should we bring her here?"

"Not quite yet." He shakes his head. "We have unfinished business to attend to."

"Like Ashley Purdy?"

The giant was quite intuitive he would give them that. He nodded running a hand through his hair. Ashley no longer showed his face within Paradise. There were other places he could search. His previous mistake had been that he actively pursued his victims. They'd been high profile catching media attention. It was only a matter of time before the Enforcers were called in to set things right. This time he would be more careful.

"Have we located him?"

"No boss, I've questioned the waitresses. No one knows." He shakes his head.

"Check with Astar at Hysteria." He orders. "If he doesn't know go straight to Remington."

"Right away boss." He vanishes.

Going after your friends now? I don't like the person you're becoming Andy.

He allows himself to look at the physical manifestation of his voice of reason.

I was never yours Andrew, you know that.

"We could have made it work."

Could we have? You almost killed someone you called a friend. If you had I would have never forgiven you.

"You were miserable with him Rin! Homesick, you missed your family! Don't delude yourself into thinking you were happy with him!"

I was, despite missing home and my family I was happy. I still am.

"Rin..." His voice breaks. He feels the ghost of her hand on his cheek. The brush of her lips against his. He goes to reach for her his hand going straight through. Her smile is sad.

There is still time to walk away from this. Please Andy, we can help you. All wounds heal when enough time has passed and that includes heartache.

"I'm sorry Rin, but I refuse to walk away from this." He shakes his head. His conscience disappears at the same time Roth appears.

"Well?"