( It's a bitter, unfair pill to swallow. Frankly, it would be better if he weren't him, if he were a liar, if he were possessed or a shifter or some other screwed up douche monster trying to mess with her head.

He licks his lips as he thinks. Chews the inside of his cheek, turning over the half-dozen ideas that come to mind and are immediately dismissed as too much or not enough.

Eventually, he settles on: )

River Pass. ( Two words that are impossible not to immediately understand. It might not be enough, just knowing they were both there could be word of mouth from any Demon Extra, so he builds on it. ) We found Ellen first when we got there. The two of you were separated, opposite sides of the whole... town civil war thing. First thing your mother did was slap me so friggin' hard in the face for not calling you guys when I got out of hell, I can still feel it in my molars. Four months downstairs and your mom still scared me more than any damn demon in the whole freakin' pit.

( More like forty years, but he doesn't think she's privy to that little tidbit. Probably an admission for another day — or another year, considering how much more she's gonna have to learn in the near future. )