Scales of the Serpent

by Richard A. Knaak

  The blood kept flowing. Uldyssian blamed himself, but he also blamed beings like Lilith, Inarius, and Rathma for thinking so little of mortal life.

  They would pay. They would all pay…with Lilith first.

  That brought him back to another question that had to be answered quickly. “That ancient structure. How does it come to be that you’re all here, near it, and not on your way to the main temple?”

  Romus’s face lit up. “’Twas Serenthia! She had a vision and saw this place! Such a new and wonderful power! Even you’ve never had that, have you, Master Uldyssian?”

  “No.” Uldyssian doubted that any of the edyrem had experienced such an ability or possibly ever would. “No…and I fear that neither has Serenthia.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Romus, has she…has Serenthia seemed different?”

  “Different?” The bald man shrugged. “When you vanished, she took up the struggle and saved many of us who might’ve joined Tomo! She brought spirit back to us, Master Uldyssian, when we thought you were no more!”

  Lilith had done her work well, judging by Romus’s rapt expression and marveling tone. Uldyssian had returned just in time.

  He took the man by the shoulders. Romus had come far from the disreputable figure that had watched him from far across the Parthan square. “Listen to me. Nothing is what it seems. You believe that Serenthia’s been guiding all of you since my disappearance—”

  “Aye, of course—”

  Vehemently shaking his head, Uldyssian went on, “You’re all being tricked, Romus! That is Serenthia in body in there, yes, but what you hear and see is the work of a demon, the sister of the foul Lucion! You know of whom I speak!”

  The edyrem’s visage clouded. “You speak of Lilith, of whom we’ve all heard, aye. Can it be true that you’re saying Serenthia’s her in disguise! It can’t be!”

  “She possesses Serenthia. Serenthia is there, deep in slumber. What you’ve seen, what you’ve experienced, I promise you, Romus, that the true Serenthia would have had nothing to do with it…”

  “Nothing…aye…” Romus looked down in thought.

  Uldyssian could not give him the luxury of digesting all of this. “Romus…Romus, is Serenthia inside that place?”

  “Aye. She should be.”

  “Do you know what she plans there?”

  The edyrem shook his head. “Nay, but I and some others are to come to her near midnight. Ser—She says that there is a matter of import for us to discuss.”

  “The sentries I saw. Have they had special contact with her?” After Romus nodded, Uldyssian explained, “We must be wary of them. They may be under her spell.”

  “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…”

  Fifteen

  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…”

  “All you wanted was a puppet to lead the creation of your magical army so that you could take Sanctuary from Inarius!” Uldyssian looked to Romus. “When she finds someone even more useful, you’ll be tossed aside! Think, Romus! This isn’t you! This isn’t!”

  “You know nothing of my life before your coming to Partha, Master Uldyssian! I answered to no one! I was feared by all! You took that away from me and made me one of your sheep! But she’s reminded me of who I really am”—he leaned close, his eyes wide and deadly. His expression was manic—“and I adore her more for it!”

  There was no hope talking to the Parthan. Lilith had completely seduced him, seeking deep within that lingering darkness that had once entirely engulfed Romus…and now did so again.

  Uldyssian tried to pull his left hand free, but the bonds held. Romus smirked. Lilith pouted her lips in mock sorrow for their prisoner.

  As Uldyssian fought for time and some manner of escape, he asked, “So, has she been using you to bring forth the new edyrem? That’s all she really wants! She can’t do it so quickly herself. It’s the nature of the gifts; they’re a human thing and she’s not, Romus!”

  His words fell on deaf ears. “She chose me. She chose me from all of them because she saw how powerful I was and that I could be stirred from the illusions you cast upon us. Since, Hashiri, I’ve shown others, both new and old, the same, and each day, there’s more.” He grinned. “They treat me like a god…”

  Lilith leaned close, first kissing Romus on the cheek, then licking it. He responded to her action like a cat, rubbing his face into hers. The scene sickened Uldyssian on more than one level; not only for Serenthia’s sake, but the Parthan’s, too. This was not the Romus he knew.

  “And after tonight,” the demoness murmured to Uldyssian as she continued her seduction, “they will all see the truth, dear Romus! Isn’t that so?”

  “Are you going to use him?” the former brigand eagerly asked.

  She chuckled at his question. “Now that would be marvelous, but no. His blood would be no good. In fact, it might have the opposite effect, adding his taint. No…I need someone whose life force would magnify that which I desire, dear, sweet Romus…and there’s truly only one person in my mind for that.”

  The Parthan suddenly gaped. His eyes widened even farther, to the point that they looked like those of a frog.

  With a shiver, he slumped forward, sprawling over a stunned Uldyssian. As he did, his back became visible.

  A long, crimson puddle oozed out of the wicked hole in his back.

  Lilith held up the dagger that Uldyssian had noted before his betrayal. Romus’s blood dribbled down the blade and over the hilt. Lilith paid no mind as red spots formed on her hand. Instead, she used her free hand to stroke the Parthan’s bald head.

  “He was a delight…I’m sure Serenthia enjoyed it, too. Pity he was so perfect for the role.”

  “You’re mad, Lilith!”

  Her expression tightened. “No…I am justified, dear Uldyssian! Justified! I saved the children and for that good deed I was cast out into emptiness! Inarius thought that I would never find my way back…but I did, I did!” She returned to caressing the dead Romus. “He was so determined to prove himself to me and her. He came right in and told me how you’d called him into the jungle and that he’d pretended to still be your friend!” Lilith smiled. “I will admit your timing startled me, my love. I smell another’s work in that. Have you been talking to my darling Inarius? Hmm?”

  Even though Uldyssian had more than once thought Rathma no better than his parents, something made him hold back from telling the demoness the truth. “I had a short conversation with him. He misses you and begs your forgiveness. Then, he wants to kill you.”

  The face above him contorted into one that held no sanity whatsoever, a spectacle made all the more terrible by the fact that it was Serenthia’s.

  Then, as quickly as it had appeared, the madness once again vanished behind a mask of seduction. “Such a jest, dear, sweet Uldyssian! No, I don’t believe that Inarius would ever have use for you! He thinks himself without flaw, and thus, in need of no one but himself to set things as he sees them!” Lilith grinned. “And so he shall sit oblivious on his throne even as the walls of his glittering cathedral come raining down around him!”

  Uldyssian doubted that the angel would be so complacent, but Lilith clearly shared Inarius’s megalomania. She could not imagine her plots unraveling, especially due to the interference of any mere mortal.

  The trouble was, in that last case, it seemed that she was correct. Uldyssian could feel the power within him trying to burst free, but something held it in check. He could not sense any spell on him, but the work of the demoness could be very, very subtle.

  “Still struggling,” she commented. “How admirable is your determination…or is it that you just wish to one more time hold me in your arms?” Lilith leaned close enough to kiss him, and although once Uldyssian had wanted those lips against his, he was now revolted. Not for himself, however, but for Serenthia, whose body was now the demoness’s plaything.

  The lips moved to his ear, where Lilith whispered, “Not too long, my love, and you will hold me again. When I cast the spell using poor Romus’s blood, you shan’t be immune, either! You’ll finally see matters as I desire, then…”

  He wanted to spit in her face. “Why didn’t you do this in the beginning?”


  A throaty chuckle. “Because a dupe who thinks he is doing good is the best cover for my plan! But we’ve gone far past that point and you’ve gathered so many followers! When the opportunity arose, how could I resist? Now, you’ll gather new converts knowing exactly what is demanded of them—allegiance to me!”

  Uldyssian tried to grab her, but his struggles remained futile. Lilith laughed again and backed up the better to admire his efforts. She brushed against Romus’s body, still half-sprawled over her prisoner.

  With a weak growl, the Parthan abruptly pushed himself up. He grabbed Lilith by the arm that held the dagger. Blood splattered on Uldyssian.

  Any hope by Uldyssian that the Parthan’s startling act would save both of them quickly died as the demoness twisted around and grabbed Romus by the throat. To his credit, the former brigand, his eyes bearing none of the fanaticism of her control, tried to burn her with his power. His hands glowed bright and smoke arose where they touched Lilith.

  But she only laughed, and with one squeeze of her hand, crushed in his windpipe.

  Already suffering a massive wound, Romus perished instantly. This time, Lilith let his still form collapse on the stone floor.

  Both hands now awash in the Parthan’s life fluids, she turned back to Uldyssian. Her ghastly smile made even Serenthia’s countenance too terrible for Uldyssian to behold and he turned his gaze away.

  “Such strong life! Yes, poor Romus’s blood will do spectacularly, my love.” Moist fingers forced his gaze back to her. “Don’t you think?”

  When Uldyssian only glared, she patted his cheek—leaving more of the Parthan’s blood—and laughed again.

  At that moment, Uldyssian sensed someone else in the chamber. He had no hope, though, that it was someone who had come to help him and sure enough the newcomer turned out to be one of the guards that he had earlier frozen.

  The edyrem eyed Uldyssian like a vermin discovered in his food.

  “The others are here, Mistress Serenthia.” He seemed unsurprised to find Romus’s body.