“You’d like to believe that, wouldn’t you?” He uttered lowly, his voice sickly sweet, edged with poison and a hint of well-hidden anger, bubbling and building within him. “Sorry. I’m not buying it.” He hummed, giving his cheek one last pat before pulling away, wiping his fingers dry on the demon’s shirt before he picked up the metal rod, glowing red-hot at the tip.

The duke sighed in relief from the smile Sam had offered, but his heart quickly plummeted into the pit of his stomach as he began to speak. Pafiel writhed and wiggled against his restraints, fear bubbling in his chest. “P-Please, have mercy!” The pathetic demon cried in horror, the suppressed sobs finally climbing to the top of his throat and emerging from his mouth. Trembling and rocking himself in his chair, panic and desperation over-coming him, he uttered the few words he would regret. “Please, no more, no more… I’ll tell you!”

Sam paused, hovering the tip of the poker an inch from the demon’s eye, casting a red glow onto the trembling creature’s face. His smile stayed in place, though he moved the tip no closer to Pafiel.

“Tell me then. Ten seconds, Pafiel. I’m waiting.” Sam murmured, his hips cocking to the side as he shifted his weight casually from one side to the other.