[CupcakeDolly]

"'Destruction'? We were saving the life of the artificer! From two psychics who were likely to wreak their own havoc on your city! But I do not suppose your intel was great enough to have seen that fact when you sent armed men after us and provoked a clearly ill man into defending himself!" Rue was careful to keep her stance aggressive, but not whiny. She glanced at Lev, her mind working quickly. She sensed his demonic presence had receded, and she hoped that it would be undetectable to the armed psychics.

"As for this man, he is not possessed. Clearly ill, yes, and suffering from trauma. But he will be coming back with me. He... is... my husband." She choked on the last word, and tried to turn it into a distressed sob. She felt bile rise into her throat. "I can take him somewhere safe to be rehabilitated, away from other people." Glancing around the room at the others, she willed them to be silent. Her ruse - and their freedom - depended on it, although she very much doubted that they would be leaving with the demonic gunman.