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The dark places — Cassie gives in and smooches Azazeal. "Smooch" is far too innocuous a word.

Medenham Hall — Ella and Roxanne have a confab about Jez:

Roxanne's friend: "I say he's gay."
Ella: "Could be, I suppose. I mean, they often are. Priests."

As all of this is going on, Thelma's sitting right next to Roxanne, enjoying herself thoroughly.

Back in Cassie's room (sans Cassie), Thelma tells Ella that Roxanne is a closet dyke. Ella (who's busy chalking a hexagram on the floor) doesn't believe it for a minute, so Thelma changes the subject.

Thelma: "All this old funny about arriving too late... you were up to something, weren't you? Come on: what was she like?
Ella: "I'm not telling. And anyway, it was a boy. Man, actually."
Thelma: "Oooh, a man actually."

Fine. But we all suspect Ella's not one to limit herself.

Thelma lets it go for now and changes the subject back to Cassie. Ella says the hexagram will protect Cassie from whatever Azazeal conjures up. Hmm. Thelma's not even sure Cassie's coming back, but Ella is certain Cassie will find the strength to resist temptation.

Or not — Cassie's not resisting much of anything at the moment. Azazeal has never looked more pleased. I roll my eyes when he says "Did I hurt you?" And then I nearly vomit when Cassie calls him "my angel."

Don't stand so close to me — Roxanne feigns despair over Felix's death in order to get Jez to counsel her one-on-one. It's as boring as I'm making it sound.

Waiting — Ella has finished the hexagram and Thelma has finished her taunting and teasing. (No, sorry: she'll never finish that.) Anyway, they're both waiting for Cassie to return.

The getaway — As Azazeal snoozes in post-coital bliss, Cassie snatches up her son and runs away.

The prophecy — Thelma reads a bit in The Vision of Orokiah about "Azazeal's whore" growing great with child.

Thelma: "Is that Cassie?"
Ella: "'Whore' wasn't quite so nasty in those days. It was like... more affectionate."

Thelma reads more about slaying the whore's son, and adds her own bit about her own disappearance. Ella takes that seriously, but Thelma doesn't want to talk about it. So Ella says a bit more about the "man actually" who was keeping her away when things were getting dire... he was a demon who betrayed her. I hate when that happens.

Thelma: "So... if I play my cards right, do you think some fit female might suddenly appear and tempt me from the straight and narrow?"
Ella: "You're hopeless."
Thelma: "No, come on. They can't all be straight. There must be some rug-munchers in here somewhere. What do you reckon?"
Ella: "Dream on."

But Ella's playing with her hair as they banter, and you know what The Streets say about what it means when she plays with her hair. She's probably keen.

They hear a noise; Ella grabs her 8-inch dagger and steps slowly toward the door. She flings it open, only to behold Cassie and Malachi.

Ella explains about the hexagram; not only will it protect Cassie: it'll also trap Azazeal if he steps inside. "A sort of cosmic condom," says Thelma.

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