“What deal?” Khent felt a great rage filling him. Memories of his words with the goddess of fate, Shai, coming back in force.
Your purpose, great dragon, will be fulfilled when your fires burn and you accept your duty. Only then will you know peace.
But what fires? I’m no dragon. I’m a reaper.So proud, was he.
Ah, but we are all more than one thing, Khentimentiu of the Sons of Osiris and Bloode of the Night.
Bloode of the Night. The Night Bloode.
Even then, the goddess had known. Already, part of the prophecy about dragons seemed to be coming true as well. He flapped his wings, feeling them grow stronger. Feeling himself grow stronger.
Valentine looked at him. “You are more, are you not? As we are more.”
“I would like to speak to Valentine.”
“Hey.” Nergal interrupted. “I was talking to Ilu, if you don’t mind.”
“Is that your name?” Khent asked her. Hoping for Valentine to step in and say no.
She cocked her head. “It will do. For now.”
Behind him, he heard the sounds of fighting and Rolf growling.
“What of Valentine’s need for vengeance against the one who wronged her?” Gods felt a need for justice, didn’t they? Perhaps Ilu would allow Valentine to come forth to fight Vladimir.
“Hmm. This is something I know.” Valentine stood, yet her feet didn’t come in contact with the ground. She floated inches above it.
The darkness of chaos flooded the room, filling Khent’s head with ideas of bloodshed and discontent for everything around him. Not that he minded the bloodshed so much, but he appreciated a well-ordered mind.
“Stop it.”
Valentine blinked, and her beautiful brown eyes reappeared. “Khent?”
The relief that filled him was shocking. “Valentine? Come back.”
“I made a deal.”
Her eyes turned to smoke once more. “She made a deal. It has been so long since I’ve been back. I’m tired of sleeping. I want to live.”
I or we? Did it even matter?
“Yes. That.” Nergal pointed to Ilu then back to himself. “See? We are the same. You saw what it was like in here. So boring.”
“A prison.” Ilu nodded. “What would you have from me, Nergal?”
“A chance to rule the world. Alongside you or under you. I don’t care which.” Nergal smiled. “I just want to leave the underworld whenever I want.”
“And crush humanity until the Mundane plane is no more.” Khent scoffed. “You’re not that stupid.”
Nergal’s eyes narrowed. “Watch your tone, boy.”
“Or what?”
Ilu—not Valentine—studied them with a smile. “Will this also be a fight? I approve.” She floated back to her throne. “Go on. Entertain me. It’s been so long.” She glanced at Rolf and the demons battling while Vladimir regrew.
But she settled her gaze on Khent more and more.
He wanted to believe Valentine remained inside, aware and battling to see him. But if she really had made a deal with the deity or deities inside her, what power would he have to break it?
