Alira swallowed. Doubt became dread. The others paled. Except Rusk. He fiddled with threads, content. Summoning Despair God was a tough sell, but not too tough for Kai.

  “Are you insane?” Alira said.

  “I concur with the lady,” Levi added. “Wherever Despair God looks, tragedy follows. Why court her attention?”

  Kai kept his expression serious and nodded. “Your concerns are fair.”

  “Concerns?” Alira’s voice rose. “I don’t know what your brother said, but I’d rather not die today.”

  Kai considered reminding her of her reckless charges toward death, but controlled himself. People got defensive when you pointed out their flaws. Counterproductive.

  “Indeed,” Levi added. “My mortality is precarious under the sun. I’d prefer to remain undead for a few more centuries.”

  Kai turned to Rusk. He studied the threads between his fingers, weaving intricate patterns, ignoring the argument. He looked up, meeting Kai’s eyes.

  “What about you? Scared of meeting Despair God?”

  Rusk shrugged. “Sounds kinda fun.”

  Two for, two against.

  Alira snorted. “Why are you asking him? His Curse makes him rash. He doesn’t understand consequences.”

  Kai suppressed a laugh. Alira calling someone rash. The irony. But she’d opened the door to a perfect opportunity - discussion about the consequences.

  Alira’s scowl matched Levi’s. Rusk’s attention returned to his threads. Merek still watched the prisoner.

  Kai pressed on. “If I didn’t have certain protections—”

  Alira raised an eyebrow. “You’re getting a little full of yourself, aren’t you? Just because your lineage—”

  “My family are old friends of Despair God. Kharon says she’s a fan.”

  Alira’s eyes rolled skyward. “Madness.”

  She had a point.

  Maybe he’d gotten too confident. Was summoning Despair God insane? Hard to tell. But Kharon had assured him. He’d trust his big brother. Kharon had proven reliable. A rare occurrence. Most people were time bombs waiting to disappoint.

  “My brother guarantees our safety. In fact…” He revealed a smile. “He says she’ll grant a boon if we impress her.”

  Alira’s eyes narrowed. “Impress her?”

  Kai gestured toward the legless, handless prisoner under Shadow. “We give her a good show. She might become a powerful ally.”

  She scoffed. “You mean to make a god your ally? Not just any god. Despair God?”

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  “Well,” Levi said, stroking his chin. “I hate to disagree with the lady…but this idea has some merit.” He nodded slowly. “I’m inclined to trust Kharon’s intentions. He may be devious, but I’ve never known him to lie. I doubt he’d start with his little brother.”

  Three for, one against.

  Alira exhaled slowly, shaking her head. “You’ve infected the vampire with your insanity.”

  Levi bristled. “Hey!”

  Kai’s expression hardened. “What do you think those bastards did in that village?”

  Anger flickered across Alira’s face.

  He stoked the fire. “They slaughtered men, women, and children. Left flames and ash behind. Created enough despair to summon a god.”

  Emotions warred across her features. Fear, anger, reluctance.

  “Now she’s bored. The killing’s done,” he said.

  Alira shook her head, clinging to her resistance. “What makes you think we’re safe from her?”

  “That’s the thing,” Kai replied. “Despair God doesn’t cause despair. She just…likes to watch.”

  Alira grimaced. “I don’t know if that makes me feel any better.”

  He didn’t blame her. Despair God’s tastes were unique, but she wouldn’t kill them or make them suffer. Good news in his book.

  Alira’s grimace didn’t soften, but she didn’t resist.

  He glanced over his companions. Even the boy. “Any more objections?”

  Merek didn’t have a vote, but he seemed as eager to see their prisoner despair as the god herself.

  All on board.

  Kai nodded. “Good. Then let’s get on with it.”

  Fear flashed across the prisoner’s face. “W—what are you gonna do to me?”

  He’d already begun to despair. Anticipation was its own torture. But not quite. They were off to a good start.

  Levi licked his fangs. “Can I eat him?” His appetite was ferocious.

  “You can eat as much as you like when Despair God arrives,” Kai said.

  Levi nodded, smiling greedily.

  The prisoner’s face fell. “Please, gods, no.”

  How many people had this man cut down while they screamed the same words?

  Kai squatted before him. “Don’t worry.” He studied the prisoner’s stumps and wounds. “I can heal you, you know?”

  The child killer’s face cycled through suspicion, hope, suspicion, then despair. “But you won’t.”

  Kai sighed. “That’s what I’d decided. Why waste soul essence on a bastard like you?” He shrugged. “Rusk can seal your wounds well enough. And he can recoup his threads - more cost-efficient.”

  He pointed at the prisoner’s sealed stump. “Although…” He stroked his chin. “I could refill my essence with your blood, but Levi’s famished. What kind of friend would I be to steal his meal?”

  The prisoner glanced at Levi, mouth quivering. “Please. His voice broke. Please…”

  “Levi.” Kai’s gaze never left the prisoner’s face. “You got another dagger? One that doesn’t absorb blood like a greedy vampire?”

  Levi scoffed. “Greedy vampire? I’ll have you know my appetite is quite reserved among my people. I’ve maintained decorum even under this intolerable red sun, haven’t I?”

  Kai turned to Levi. The vampire’s chin had risen. “The dagger.”

  “Hmph.” Levi reached into his cape. His hand returned with a steel dagger, onyx hilt. “This should do the job.” He handed the dagger over.

  “My thanks.”

  Levi offered a curt nod. Kai’s focus returned to the prisoner. “There’s something I wanna test.”

  He poured essence into the blade, then thrust it into the prisoner’s arm stump. A scream tore from the man’s lips. Bone extended. Flesh writhed. An arm grew.

  He pursed his lips. “That’ll be useful.”

  Infusing healing essence into weapons was useless in the Darklands. But it had the power to mass-produce Demons on Earth. Near-death experiences sent humans into the First Trial. Demons possessed those who failed.

  A mighty tool in his hands. A weapon of mass destruction.

  A subtle smile shone through the prisoner’s pain-stricken features. Hope. The perfect prelude to despair.

  They locked eyes. Kai’s voice was flat. “Rusk, this bastard’s grown an extra arm.” He shook his head. “What a problem. Why don’t we help him solve it?”

  Rusk’s fingers swept the air. Threads raced. The prisoner’s right arm thudded against stone. He convulsed, screaming louder than before. Blood flowed from the wound into his thirsty suit.

  Kai picked up the freshly grown arm. He tossed it to Levi. The vampire didn’t miss a beat. He caught the arm, sinking his fangs deep. Slurping sounds followed.

  A cruel smile grew on Kai’s lips. “I think we’ve found you an unlimited food supply, Levi.”

  The prisoner sank deeper into despair. Then Kai saw it.

  Two gigantic eyes hovered above the massacred village. Purple pupils slid across black sclera, gazing toward him.

  Despair God was looking.

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