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"So there's no one left."
"There's no one left," Geoffrey agreed. He looked at Draca. "If Saetan did what we think he did, there isn't a shard of pottery, a scrap of cloth, or a line from a poem, story, or song left that came from the Zuulaman people. There isn't any trace of them in any of the Realms."
Including the islands they came from,Andulvar thought, feeling sick.
"It's as if they never existed," Geoffrey said.
Draca took a step toward Andulvar. "Ssaetan iss the ssame man today ass he wass a year ago, the ssame ass he hass been ssince he made the Offering to the Darknesss and wass gifted with the Black Jewelss. He iss the ssame man who hass been your friend for many yearss."
"But now I know what he's capable of doing if he's pushed too hard or too far," Andulvar said, shuddering.
"Yess," Draca replied gently. "Now you know."
15
The next morning, Andulvar walked into the informal receiving room at the same moment Saetan began descending the stairway that led to the family wing. They stopped at the same time and studied each other.
Andulvar felt a chill twist up his spine as he looked into Saetan's glazed, gold eyes.
"The boys?" Saetan asked.
"They're fine. I'll bring them back later today. I came now to see how you're doing."To see if you're sane.
"I…" Frowning, Saetan descended the rest of the stairs. He wasn't moving with his usual grace, and the hand that clutched the banister trembled. "Have I been ill?"
The glazed look gave way to puzzlement.
"How do you feel?" Andulvar asked, not quite sure how to answer the question.
"Hollowed out," Saetan replied, rubbing his forehead. "Like I've had a fever. Thoughts keep swimming through my head, but I can't put them together in a way that makes sense. Andulvar…"
He didn't see a Warlord Prince capable of destroying an entire race of people. He saw the man who had been his friend for centuries. He saw a man who was exhausted, a man so heartsick itwas a kind of illness.
He held out his hand, certain that if Saetan accepted that hand, he would get his friend back. Saetan would regain his emotional balance, and the leash he used to protect the rest of the Blood from the full violence of what he was would be restored.
Then Hekatah burst into the room. The hand reaching for his fell away. The gold eyes glazed again, and in their depths swam something Andulvar had never seen before.
This is why the demon-dead call him the High Lord,Andulvar thought in despair.This is why they fear him enough that he can rule the Dark Realm even though he's still among the living. It's too late. There's no going back. For any of us.
"What have you done?" Hekatah screamed as she rushed toward Saetan.
Andulvar grabbed her arm, hauling her back out of reach. Not because he cared abouther, but because he was afraid of what would happen if Saetan responded now.
"Darling Hekatah," Saetan crooned.
"What did you do?" she screamed again.
"I took care of things," he replied too softly. "I took care of everything." He turned and walked up the stairs. When he was halfway up, he stopped and looked back at her. "If you want other lovers, you don't want me as a husband. I've tolerated that game for the last time, Priestess. If it happens again, we'll be divorced before you have time to leave your lover's bed. As for him…" He smiled a brutal, gentle smile. "I'll take him to Hell. Your name will be the last thing he screams while the Hounds tear him apart."
Hekatah stared up at him. Then she made a dismissive gesture. "What did you do to Zuulaman?"
"Zuulaman? That's a word without meaning."
"It's a place, as you very well know."
Saetan shook his head. "It doesn't exist." He walked up the stairs and disappeared down the corridor toward his suite.
Since Saetan was no longer available, Hekatah rounded on Andulvar. "What did he do?" she demanded. "Did he put some kind of shield around the islands so no one can find them?"
"They're gone, Hekatah," Andulvar said quietly.
"We sent messengers to find out why the Ambassador left so suddenly but they couldn't find…"
"The islands are gone."Hell's fire! How many times would he have to say it before the bitch finallyheard him?
Hekatah frowned at him. "What do you mean they're gone?"
"The islands don't exist anymore. The Zuulaman people don't exist anymore. Everything that ever came from them doesn't exist anymore."
She shook her head slowly. "Not possible.You can't destroyeverything about a people that fast."
"You can't. I can't. But the Prince of the Darkness? The High Lord of Hell? He can. Oh, yes, Hekatah.He can."
She kept shaking her head. "You don't believe that story about him ruling the Dark Realm. A living man can't rule the demon-dead, can't control them."
Andulvar released her arm and stepped back. "You believe what you choose. But when they butchered his son and sent the pieces to him, Zuulaman broke the chain he'd forged to keep the rest of us safe from what he is. Iknow what he is. So Iknow he's the High Lord of Hell."
Fear slowly filled her eyes. She staggered back a step. "I can't stay here. He's angry with me."
"He's still riding the killing edge," Andulvar said. "There's no room in him yet for something as small as anger. Not when the rage only needs a spark to rekindle and look for another killing field."
She shrank away from him.
"Why don't you go back to Hayll and spend a few more days with your family? Right now, there's nothing you can do to help him."
As she glanced up the stairs, her face turned a sickly gray. "Yes. I need…I don't feel well."
He watched her stumble out of the room. Then he went to the window and pulled back the curtains enough to watch her run to the Coach that was still waiting for her.
Stupid aristo bitch. He wondered if Saetan had sensed the Coach and realized Hekatah hadn't intended to stay. He wondered if Saetan cared. At least she was gone for a few more days and wouldn't stir things up.
I can't help you, SaDiablo,Andulvar thought as he let the curtain fall back into place.She shattered the moment when I might have made a difference. But I can give you two reasons to step away from the killing edge… and come all the way back from the Twisted Kingdom.
16
As he stared at the charred, broken remains of a tangled web, Saetan felt Andulvar's wary presence as the Eyrien entered the short corridor that led to this hidden workroom.
