Alex placed his hands on his eyes and let tears flow.  His sobs could be heard outside of the room as Ambrose approached Caleb and spoke words that struck Caleb in the heart like a blade dipped in poison.  He stood there looking at Ambrose emotionlessly waiting for him to finish his rant, all the while feeling the pain the words were meant to inflict.  Caleb had done it, he had pushed away Ambrose, maybe then when shit hit the fan Ambrose wouldn't be pulled in by him.  The wall was finished and it seemed that Ambrose wouldn't talk to him ever again once this ordeal was over.  Caleb slid down into a sitting position and let his head hit the wall behind him as he let everything that had transpired fill his head.  

"It's for the best," he said softly as he listened to Alex sob.  He looked down the hall and sighed.  "It's for the best," he said again standing to his feet and dusting off his clothes.  

The walk to the library was a silent one, and when he arrived, Sam noticed a darkness about him that she couldn't ignore.  She noticed Ariana stand up upon Ambrose's arrival and noticed the young man start to read a bunch of books, but when Caleb entered a few minutes behind Ambrose, she could tell something happened and yet the look on Caleb and Ambrose's faces kept her in place from prying.  Sam watched Ambrose and felt sorry for him.  He had experienced the darkness the world she loved contained.  Magic was both a gift and a curse.  She wanted to go to him and give him a hug, but she stood in her spot as Caleb walked in.

"Caleb," she said softly, "Caleb what..."

"Tuchulcha."  That was all Caleb said as he watched Sam's eyes grow wide and Ariana gasp.

"Are you sure?" Sam said looking into the eyes of Caleb who looked away.  She wanted to embrace him, let him know she was there for him to lean on.  

"Yes," Caleb said, "a dangerous adversary."

"Any underworld demon that gets loose is a dangerous adversary.  Tuchulcha are known to cause havoc and kill relentlessly.  They consume souls.  How did one slip through?" Ariana asked her hand clutching the pearls around her neck.  Sam shook her head.

"It is my fault.  I should have known the darkness would draw it, I should have performed the ritual in light.  The ritual is supposed to be performed during the day, but I didn't think a Tuchulcha would slip through."

"I'll find it," Caleb said noticing Ambrose head first in books.  He looked at him for a brief moment before returning his gaze to Sam who was objecting to him finding the demon alone.

"Caleb," she said with a sigh.

"It's going to strike again, we need to find it before then," Caleb said as Ariana shook her head.

"But that doesn't mean you go off alone to find it, we need a plan."

"Ariana's right Caleb, it's reckless, you're going to get yourself killed," Sam said her eyes emotional.

Caleb lowered his head and turned to leave the library.

"Caleb!" Sam spoke but Caleb continued walking.  "Damnit!" she slammed her fist onto a desk causing Ariana to jump slightly.  "Ambrose, what happened?" she asked concern laced in her voice.  "Please tell me he didn't use it, did he use it?"

[@Catmint]