Page 46 of Warrior Unraveled

“Bad move.”

With one hand, Zoltan shoved Klaus backward, sending him over the edge.

A desperate scream dislodged from the demon’s throat as he fell into the hell pit. More screams followed. Screams of horrific pain and despair. But Zoltan was already marching out of the cave. As much as he wanted to watch his subject suffer, he had more important things to do.

Ulric was waiting for them in the throne room, the largest cavern in the Underworld. Red flames flickered through the cracks of the uneven stone walls, gas burned from sconces along it, and a massive stone throne sat on a rock platform, stairs leading down to the large area where his subjects assembled to hear the Great One speak. Today the great hall was empty.

“You may leave, Yannick,” Zoltan said without looking at him. He waited until the footsteps grew fainter and then vanished completely. Then he looked at Ulric. He appeared worse for wear, his clothes torn and green blood oozing from various wounds.

“You’re alone?”

Ulric nodded.

“Where are the others?”

“Dead, oh Great One.”

“Why?”

“I’m not sure. We transported into the Stealth Guardians’ compound and spread out to do our reconnaissance, when I heard an alarm go off, and sounds of men fighting. I can only assume that my men were discovered.”

Zoltan narrowed his eyes in suspicion. “Yet you escaped. How fortunate.”

“I tried to help them. I did what I could. There was much confusion. Too many Stealth Guardians running around, heading for their portal. I waited for them to leave in the hope of accessing their portal after them.”

“Hmm.” At least that seemed like a smart idea. The best Ulric had probably had in his entire life. “And?”

“They initiated a self-destruct sequence.”

Zoltan sucked in a breath. “They willingly destroyed their own compound?”

Ulric nodded eagerly. “They did. There was nothing left of the portal. I was lucky to get out alive.”

“What took you so long to get back? I sent you there over twenty-four hours ago.”

“The explosion. It knocked me unconscious. I hurried back as soon as I came to.”

Hurried footsteps echoed from one of the tunnels leading to the throne room. Zoltan snapped his head in its direction and saw Vintoq running toward them.

“I came as quickly as I heard, oh Great One,” Vintoq said. “Yannick informed me that your reconnaissance team attacked the compound.”

Zoltan spun his head back to Ulric, glaring at him. “You didn’t say your team attacked first.”

Ulric’s lips trembled and his eyes darted to Vintoq, then back to Zoltan. “We didn’t attack. I told my men to be stealthy. I cautioned them to hide, not to use their weapons. They knew it was a reconnaissance mission first and foremost. I never gave an order to attack.”

“Hmm.” Zoltan contemplated his words. Was Ulric lying to save his hide?

Vintoq sidled up to Zoltan. “Oh Great One, that’s not what Yannick overheard Ulric mumbling when he stepped out of the vortex on his arrival back here.”

“No!” Ulric protested and searched Zoltan’s eyes. “You must believe me. I did nothing wrong. I followed your instructions to the letter.”

“He’s lying. Punish him!” Vintoq demanded and reached for Ulric’s throat. Ulric pushed back.

“There’s something else,” Ulric said, his gaze swinging back to Zoltan, panic evident. “In my pocket. I found something just before the place blew up. Just outside what looked like a conference chamber.”

“Lies!” Vintoq hissed and squeezed Ulric’s throat, causing him to choke.

Zoltan stepped in and reached into Ulric’s pocket. He pulled a shiny device from it. A cell phone covered in a silver casing.

“Vintoq, stand down. Release him!”

Vintoq shot a look at Zoltan, defiance spewing from his eyes. “But, oh Great One. He’s a failure. He didn’t follow your orders.”

Ulric fought for air, clawing at Vintoq in desperation.

“Let him go!” Zoltan repeated. “Or you’ll suffer his fate instead.”

Immediately Vintoq released his victim. Ulric coughed and breathed hard, sucking deep breaths of air into his lungs.

Zoltan lifted the cell phone, showing it to Vintoq. “This will more than make up for the botched mission.” He woke the cellphone and scrolled through its contact list. Dozens of names and numbers. A veritable goldmine.

He lifted his head and looked at Ulric. “Despite your team’s failure, you’ve done well.” Because this phone was better than a blueprint of the Stealth Guardians’ compound.

“Congratulations. You get to live.”

For now.