I arrived at the tip just after five. Waves were lapping against the rocks at the base of the small lighthouse My wings shuddered to a stop, wing muscles still shivering inside my chest after the flight from Sanctuary 73.

She was waiting there, sitting against the concrete. Once again, she was wearing a purple suit, this time humming as she idly caressed the Echo curled up in her lap. It yawned, and three mouths inside it yawned as well. The creature from earlier this week. Beside her, the hulking bull-like Echo from the forest lay, also sleeping peacefully. Next to it, she seemed even tinier, yet it was clear who was in charge. “Oh,” she said. “You actually came. I’m so glad that you did.”

“I want answers. That’s all.”

She pursed her lips. “Aw... you didn’t want to see me?” The Echo in her lap sat up and growled at me, but she scratched its rocky skin and it calmed down. “There, there,” she said. “Don’t be alarmed.” Yet more echoes swarmed around her. A small bird with a decurved bill sat on her shoulder. Little black grasshoppers hopped blanketed the ground nearby, flying just to the side where I stepped.

“That’s a lot of Echoes.”

“Yes,” she smiled. “As the youngest demons, it’s our duties to care for them. Usually just one on one, but we’ve had our hands full as of late. So, so many new Echoes. Destructive. Scared. And so many angels hunting them down.”

“They’re so... peaceful,” I said.

“Of course! They wouldn’t hurt anyone. As long as there’s a demon to watch over them, see? They’re well-behaved.”

I was getting distracted. Right. I came here for a reason. “Tell me where my parents are.”

“How rude. Getting to business right away.”

“I’m not going to be friends with you.”

She stood up, letting the echo hop off her lap and curl up among the rocks. “I see.” Was that a tear in the corner of her eye? I must have been seeing things. “Well, your parents’ location is the one thing I can’t tell you.”

“You said you’d answer all my questions.”

“I don’t know the answer to that,” she said. “Ecto’s very tight-lipped about it, and he’s gotten the other first-sphere demons to listen to him. So I don’t know the answer to that... yet. If you would come with me to him, though...”

“Yeah, nice try.”

She laughed. “Aw, you think I’m out to get you still. To tell you the truth, I really don’t get the other demons. We’re not on the same wavelength. They have their grand ambitions, their big plan for this place, but... I don’t.”

“Oh, you’re not like all the other demons?” I said.

“Yes. Seriously! I was hoping that we could be friends, you know. Just hang out. Have fun together. Angel and demon, y’know? It’s not like you have any other friends.”

“Hang out with you? You look, like, ten.”

She balled her hands into fists and stormed up to me. “That can change.” And it did. She grew taller, her hair grew out, her features aged until she looked like she could be my classmate. Her voice, though... it didn’t change. It still sounded just a little too old for her. “I’m serious. I really just want to be your friend, Quinn. You get it, right? You’re the youngest angel, just like I’m...”

“You’re the youngest demon? Like, the youngest youngest?”

She nodded her head. “Sorry, this must be really weird. I’m like, breaking character and everything. We’re supposed to keep up these aloof facades in front of humans, but I just... it’s tiring, you know. Being the only kid, surrounded by adults.”

“I totally get you.”

“See. And I thought you might... understand a little more. The demons are a bit strange to you, but we’re not evil. We’re doing our best. It’s the angels that are manipulating you.”

“I’m not so sure about that.”

“I’ll show it to you, then. I’ll show you everything about us, and why everything you think about us is wrong. If you promise to... to actually talk to me. To consider what I have to say.”

“You really you’ll convince me like that?”

“Quinn!” she screamed. “I’m being serious! I really want to know you. I really want to have someone who understands, just a little bit. Someone who’ll listen to me.” Tears streamed down her face. “Or I can just... I can just tell Ecto everything.”

“No, don’t do that.”

“Then...” She held out her hand expectantly.

I hesitated for a moment before taking it. Her grip was strong, even through my exoskeleton.

“Thanks,” she said. “I’ll show you what demons really are like. I’ll tell you everything. Because unlike the angels, we have nothing to hide.” The look in her eyes was sincere. I thought. Maybe? Just moments ago I knew she was being genuine. But now, looking at her, I couldn’t tell. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

I’d just made a deal with the devil.