"Why? Do you think her yours?"
"Leave her alone."
WolfStar brushed past StarDrifter and poured himself a glass of wine from the jug on the table.
"Would you like some wine, StarDrifter?"
"Leave Zenith alone!"
"Zenith is revolted by the idea of your bloodless hands touching her, and she is certainly unable to placidly contemplate the act of love with you, fool! Let Zenith make up her own mind about who she wants, and how she wants them."
"She loves me!"
Wolf Star's mouth curled. "But she cannot stand your touch. A poor kind of love, wouldn't you say?"
StarDrifter stared, knowing he was coming off the worst in this exchange, but needing to not only let off some of his raging emotions, but also to somehow make this fiend realise that he should leave Zenith alone.
"You have raped and abused her," he said, making his voice as calm and as even as he could. "You have willingly conspired with another for the death of her spirit, her soul. Isn't there even a scrap of guilt in you?"
"No."
StarDrifter closed his eyes, refusing to believe he'd lost Zenith.
"Have you slept with her?"
Wolf Star grinned. "Oh yes, but that was many months ago. Don't you remember? It was under the warmth of the moon —"
"I mean recently! Since you've been in Sanctuary!"
"No. I have held her hand." WolfStar shifted slightly, standing more erect, letting the light of the lamp play over his body. "But I think it is time to correct that. I am feeling so much better."
StarDrifter stared at him, then turned and stalked out of the room.
The door crashed shut behind him.
WolfStar's grin broadened, and he drained his glass of wine.
Chapter 35
Dispersal
"We have almost no time," DragonStar said to his five witches grouped about him. They were alone in the basement chamber of Star Finger, save for the pack of Alaunt, the lizard among them, huddled in an indistinguishable pile of pale fur against a far wall. StarLaughter was wandering some of the still-intact apartment complexes on a higher level — no doubt searching for the right shade of colour to drive WolfStar mad with lust, DragonStar thought dryly — and the Strike Force were sheltering amid the tumbled rocks on the surface. They would all have to move. Soon. And very, very fast.
"And so —" Faraday began.
"And so you must listen to me, and listen well," DragonStar said, matching Faraday's stare.
She dropped her eyes.
"All of you must meet one of the Demons," DragonStar said. "This you know. But which ones?
DareWing and Goldman, your task will be the easiest, for you will eventually work as a team rather than individually. You will meet Barzula and Mot; which of you meets which one, I care not."
"Why together, and where?" DareWing said.
DragonStar hesitated briefly before replying, again wondering how much he should tell his five.
"I thought it was happenchance that I created five of you," DragonStar said, "but now I realise it to be the Star Dance's design. There are five Demons, not counting Qeteb whom I must meet, and there are five of you.
"As there were five Sentinels."
The others looked among themselves, their faces reflecting varying degrees of shock. None of them had realised the connection.
"In this game I do not believe in coincidence," DragonStar said, watching them carefully, "and I will not ignore the signs posted along our torturous route. DareWing and Goldman, despite your different temperaments, you work well together, and you will make a team —"
"Ogden and Veremund," Faraday said softly. "Cauldron Lake."
"Yes —" DragonStar began, but was interrupted by Goldman.
"Are you trying to say that DareWing and I are Ogden and Veremund?"
"No. The Sentinels still exist, but are far distant, drifting among the stars. What you are is simply another aspect of the Enemy's plan that the Sentinels once represented."
"And I... I represent Yr," Faraday said, her eyes far distant.
DragonStar smiled at her, and she did not look away, or frown. "Yes. At Grail Lake."
Now she shuddered, and averted her eyes. "The Maze."
