Sheol broke into triumphant laughter, and rose from Faraday's feet, seizing Faraday's shoulders in a grip so painful that Faraday cried out and almost lost consciousness.

"You stupidest of bitches!" Sheol said. "I've won, and that means DragonStar has lost! "

"I'm sorry," Faraday whispered into the swirling snowstorm, knowing no apology could ever be enough. "I'm sorry."

Three to two. The balance was in Qeteb's camp. DragonStar had failed.

Qeteb turned to DragonStar. He spoke, but with the mind voice only.

The preliminaries are over, Enemy. Now it is just you and me.

DragonStar, impassive even in utter defeat, nodded. Just you and me.

Qeteb smiled. The choices are made, the outcome assured.

DragonStar bowed his head. Aye. I accept it.

Then let the Hunt begin!

And Qeteb vanished, and as he vanished, the billions of creatures in and about the Maze let loose an almighty roar as if with one voice.

Let the Hunt begin!

Leagh clutched her Child to her breast, her eyes round and fearful. "We've lost!"

Ur stared into the distance, seeing something that no-one else could. "Perhaps."

Chapter 65

Abandoned

Sheol threw Faraday down on the mausoleum floor before Mot and Barzula. Mot laughed, the sound violent and horrifying, and Faraday only barely managed to find the courage to raise her head.

Katie still struggled in their grip, her eyes round and terrified, her face so white Faraday wondered that she had not already fainted.

"Let Katie go," she said. "Let her go. I have offered myself to take her place."

"Let her go? Let her go?" Sheol giggled from behind Faraday. "Why?"

"You promised! You said that Qeteb would swap Katie for me! You said that Katie would go free!"

"She lied to you, bitch."

The voice, harsh with hatred and something else that, when Faraday comprehended it, filled her with nauseous dread. No! No! Not this again!

Qeteb walked around Sheol and stood with Mot and Barzula. His metal armour clanked and shrieked with every movement.

Faraday, still cowering on the floor, wrenched her gaze from Katie to look at him.

Slowly Qeteb raised a hand and lifted the visor of his helmet.

Something horrible writhed inside, and Faraday screamed.

A forked tongue flickered over the lip of the helmet's chin-piece, as if in anticipation.

"You promised to let her go!" Faraday screamed. "Take me, but let her go!"

"Didn't you hear me, cow?" Qeteb took one step towards Faraday, and she screamed, and would have wriggled away had not Sheol stamped a foot into the small of her back, pinning her to the floor.

"Oh," Qeteb said, "how I adore to see a woman writhing before me."

"Take me —" Faraday began.

"Oh, and now she begs for me!" Qeteb crowed.

"—but let Katie go!"

"I do not subscribe to the principle of honour," Qeteb said, now squatting down by Faraday. "I don't mind ensuring DragonStar's death any foul way I can."

She buried her face in her hands, unable any longer to look at the unspeakable flesh wriggling inside the helmet. Something grabbed her hair, and she knew it was Qeteb.

He wrenched her head back, forcing her to look at him.

Faraday gagged, the Midday Demon's power not even allowing her to screw her eyes shut.

"Katie stays," Qeteb said, "as do you. You are both far too useful to me to let go."

He turned his head slightly, speaking to the other three Demons. "Take Katie aside, and keep her fresh for me. Wait."

"And you?" Sheol asked, knowing what he intended to do, but also knowing that Qeteb wanted her to ask the question.

"Me?" Qeteb turned back to stare at Faraday again. His forked tongue slithered forth to hang dripping over his metal chin-piece. "Aren't we repeating Prophecy here for the amusement of poor Faraday? There is only one thing for me to do to while away the time. Enjoy myself, and ease my lusts."

His free hand reached forward, sliding under Faraday's gown and gripping one breast so painfully Faraday whimpered.

She twisted, her body straining against Qeteb's hold, and she despaired. What had Noah told her?

That she would either win, and achieve complete and lasting happiness, or she would fail and achieve total annihilation.

She had failed, and thus annihilation was hers for the asking.

Please, God, grant me death, she pleaded, and far away, nestled against the warmth and comfort of Leagh's breast, the Girl turned Her head and answered, No.

Then grant me insanity! Please! I beg you!

No. This is your destiny.

Qeteb's hand tightened remorselessly, and Faraday screamed, abandoned to her fate.