“It’s to be us two alone, then, Master Uldyssian? You can be trusting in me!” Romus’s tone all but pleaded for Uldyssian to believe in him.
Uldyssian not only believed in him, but Romus, unfortunately, needed to play a pivotal role. He could still get near Lilith without being suspected. Uldyssian required the former brigand to distract Lilith enough so that he could then strike at her while her defenses were down.
He explained such to Romus, then asked, if the man was still willing, what he knew of the building.
“’Tis an old chapel or monk’s abode, she said,” Romus answered. “Serent—She told us that it was a sign that we were directed to it. Said it would mark the beginning of a turn for all of us…”
Again, Uldyssian felt a cold chill. “Would she see you before the time she requested?”
“I could find reason, Master Uldyssian.” The Parthan shivered. “Poor Serenthia…”
“If you can keep the demoness from noticing, I’ll make my way in. Then, you leave.”
“But what about you?”
For what Uldyssian had in mind, he wanted no one else near. It was possible that forcing Lilith from Serenthia would wreak destruction on the immediate vicinity. “Just get as far away as possible. Understand?”
Romus reluctantly nodded. They talked over the details a minute or two more, then, with a short bow, he returned to the camp. Uldyssian had kept their plan as simple as possible, aware how even the slightest complications could worsen the situation several times over.
Romus did not immediately go to the temple. As dictated, he first found reason to speak with the nearest sentries and direct them elsewhere. Uldyssian did not wish to be forced to injure any of them simply because they had been entranced by Lilith.
By the time Romus had dealt with the guards, night had well established itself and from most corners of the encampment there came only silence. Many fires had all but died down. A few glow lights hovered around the area, a hint of the growing proficiency of the edyrem. Fortunately, most of the lights were dim, the better for their creators to sleep.
At last, Romus headed toward the ancient structure. The two edyrem standing duty hesitated only a moment before admitting him. As one of the most senior of Uldyssian’s followers, Romus was probably now second in command. That made his inclusion in Uldyssian’s plan invaluable.
The thick, wooden door creaked closed behind the bald man. Uldyssian counted under his breath, giving Romus time to establish his conversation with the false Serenthia. According to the Parthan, until tonight’s impending gathering, she had intended to be alone.
Finally, Uldyssian deemed that enough time had passed. Any longer, and he risked Romus’s life. There remained only the two guards, both of whom eyed the area before them with a distrust amplified by Lilith’s hold over them.
Not wishing to hurt anyone unnecessarily, Uldyssian concentrated on the two men, then slipped toward them. The guards continued to stare ahead. They now neither heard nor saw anything. Even when he hurried past them, they did not move.
There was no other entrance to the building—the only other openings being small air slits well above—but Romus had explained that there was an outer chamber before the one in which Lilith had arranged her sanctum. All Uldyssian needed to do was reach it. Then, there would be no more reason for stealth…only for swiftness. He would have one chance and one only.
At his direction, the door opened just enough to admit him. Uldyssian muffled any creak, lest the demoness be warned by even that.
The chamber he entered was utterly empty, whatever decor or artifacts likely long removed by thieves or the departing builders. Uldyssian cared not for what use the edifice had been, only that voices rose from the room beyond.
Romus’s…and Serenthia’s.
“…and yes, Romus, we’ll soon be on our way to the Triune’s main temple. I swore by Uldyssian’s death that I’d complete his quest. First the Triune, and then, definitely, the Cathedral of Light…who may be an enemy worse than those we now fight.”
“I apologize again,” the Parthan responded to her. “But I, too, wish to fulfill Master Uldyssian’s legacy. I thank you for reassuring me.”
“Not at all. Is there anything else?”
Uldyssian dared risk Romus no longer. Aware that he also did not wish to harm Serenthia’s body, the son of Diomedes threw all his will into repeating what he had done to the guards outside. He fixed on the feminine voice…
A silence enshrouded the building, a silence finally broken by a gasp from Romus. “Master Uldyssian! She does not move! She stands as if a statue!”
Uldyssian entered. The first thing he noted was Serenthia, as beautiful as he remembered her, poised like a goddess with one hand extended to Romus. A beguiling smile that had never been worn by the merchant’s daughter gave ample proof that Lilith was in truth within the woman.
Then, a second, more awful sight behind her attracted his attention.
An altar.
An altar stained by centuries-old blood.
He might have thought it merely macabre coincidence, but atop the gray, stone slab had been set a long dagger and a goblet. Worse, there were also runes drawn on the stained surface, runes freshly made.
Tonight, the altar would have drunken for the first time in generations.
Despite the risk of Lilith escaping his power, Uldyssian could not help but look up. Above the altar, the face of whatever spirit or demon that had been carved there had been artfully replaced by that unsettling combination of the two females, with a bit more of Lilith recognizable.
“Master Uldyssian?”
Romus’s pensive voice finally brought him back to the present. The Parthan stepped back as Uldyssian faced the frozen figure.
Up close, Uldyssian could see the tiny hints that the woman with whom he had grown up was not truly there. Besides the smile, the eyes had a harsh cunning that he recognized too well.
“It’s over, Lilith…” he breathed. Uldyssian put his palms on the woman’s temples. He was not certain what he needed to do, but if he could reach Serenthia, somehow, he felt that she would help him force the demoness out. “It’s all over…”
Something hard cracked against the back of his head.
The world spun about. Through blurred eyes, he saw Romus leaning toward him, the Parthan with a fanatical expression and a heavy stone apparently taken from somewhere in the chamber in his hands. The fresh blood on one end of the stone belonged to Uldyssian.
“You’ll not harm my Lilith!” Romus snapped, his face twisting into something evil. “You’ll not!”
And as Uldyssian collapsed, he heard Serenthia’s voice…and Lilith’s all-too-familiar laugh.
“Well done, my love…just as we planned…”
15
Uldyssian awoke to find his limbs bound to the altar stone. That in itself was unnerving enough, but when he attempted to use his powers to free himself…nothing happened.
Then, he heard the familiar laugh again.
“My dear, dear sweet Uldyssian,” Serenthia cooed. Only, it was not Serenthia, the son of Diomedes reminded himself, but Lilith. “So naive. So trusting.”
A face appeared over him, but it was not the one that he expected. Rather, Romus glared down at his former friend. “You should’ve never come back, Master Uldyssian. Never.”
“Romus! Are you mad? This is the demon, Lilith, here, not Serenthia!”
The Parthan shook his head. “No…you’re wrong. It’s both of them. My Serenthia and my Lilith. I’ve both of them…”
Footsteps presaged the appearance of the demoness. Brushing aside some of Serenthia’s long, dark hair, she leaned lovingly against Romus’s shoulder. “And I have you, dear Romus! How much more a loyal lover than you, Uldyssian, who could not see all that was offered! I could have been anyone you desired, including what you see…but you spurned my love and my offer…”