She smiled as Seraph spoke, then graciously accepted the pillow and blankets from Seth. "Thank you," she said, addressing both of them. When they disappeared into the other room, she set up the couch she'd been offered and made a makeshift bed on it. She laid down - the couch was surprisingly comfortable - and sighed deeply, managing to relax for the first time in several hours. She believed Seraph; he had looked and seemed completely sincere when he'd promised to protect her. She'd trust him. As she closed her eyes, her thoughts began to drift out. Were her friends and dad safe? Would they be looking for her? She sincerely hoped not, but knowing her father and Rachel, they'd be out all night even in spite of her text. She hoped they'd be okay. She hoped [i]she'd[/i] be okay.

[i]So, tomorrow we leave for Wizard City...[/i] she thought to herself. [i]I hope I'm ready for this.[/i] Honestly, no matter how hard she thought about it, she could find no discernible reason for all these things that were happening to her, or a reason why they were happening to [i]her[/i]. Monsters, demons, some evil guy, wizards, magic... it was like reality itself was being torn apart for her. She was surprised at how easily she was taking all this, but rather pleased; the last thing she needed was to start freaking out like a child. [i]No need to promote stereotypes,[/i] she thought with a grin. [i]Well, I'll deal with all this tomorrow.[/i] A few moments later, she was fully unconscious, her dreams filled with fire and magic, demons that stalked her in the night, and an odd, mysterious presence she couldn't identify.