Virine drummed his fingers on his living armrest. “You know,” he said thoughtfully, “that skin of yours … if properly peeled … it would make a hell of a hanging. Maybe even a robe?”
A low growl coming from his throat, Coleel tried to rise again, and several glabren were lifted into the air. In the end, though, there were too many, and they forced him back to the floor. Gasping, he subsided.
“There is no scenario in which you can leave my presence without giving up your secrets,” Virine said. “So you’d better just get used to that fact, you garish spawn of a withered womb. There may be a scenario in which you can leave alive. I’m not sure. It depends on your manner and the level of respect you’re prepared to show. I—”
A woman approached the throne, coming from the rear of the chamber. Avery hadn’t even seen her. The room was so dark and all he could see was Virine’s obscene seat. There must be another door. She stepped up on a kneeling glabren and whispered in Virine’s ear.
“A fire?” he said, and she whispered again. “On both sides? Has the fire department been notified?”
“Phone lines are down again,” she said, not bothering to whisper.
Avery glanced at Layanna, who was frowning. Distantly, he thought he could hear commotion, the sound of people talking loudly, shouting, maybe screams.
“Send a runner, damn your diseased cunt,” Virine said.
“Already sent, sir.”
“Good.” Virine scowled, then, slowly, returned his attention to Layanna. “You should be delivered up to the Octunggen. And your friend, too, I suppose. He was wanted, as well. It’s a shame, girl. I would love to have seen you with purple eyes.”
Avery thought quickly. He was pinned down, but his arms were free. Hoping he wasn’t noticed, he rubbed his hands against his blood-spattered face, then massaged his arms, slicking them with blood.
Virine flicked a hand, as if unconsciously, and several of the glabren jerked Avery and Layanna to their feet, then pulled them toward the rear door. Avery could just barely see a vague light coming from there. In the distance he could hear the screams and the commotion louder now, even, yes, the crackle of flames.
He acted fast. With all of his strength, he threw himself to the side. The two glabren gripping his arms seized his biceps tighter, but they were well greased with his blood and the glabren couldn’t maintain their holds. Avery tossed himself at the pile of weapons on the floor near the throne, grabbed up one of the assault rifles and aimed it at Virine’s head.
The room had gone silent, save for Avery’s breaths and heartbeat. In the background, the roar of the flames was getting louder. Closer. He could smell the unmistakable reek of smoke.
Slowly, Virine rose to his feet.
Half of the glabren had raised their own weapons and were pointing them at Avery. None made to shoot, however. Virine couldn’t risk Avery squeezing the trigger in one last firing of the nerves.
Virine, for the first time really, looked at Avery. “Well,” he said, and his voice was droll. “You have the floor.”
Avery swallowed. He could feel his legs shaking. “Free my friends.”
Virine paused, then nodded. The glabren released Layanna and Coleel. The merchant, still breathing heavily, grabbed up a gun, then offered one to Layanna, who shook her head. Even now she wouldn’t arm herself. The trait was beginning to annoy Avery.
“What else?” Virine said.
Avery wanted to tell him to make the glabren lower their weapons, but he knew the underworld czar would refuse. It was Virine’s only hold on Avery.
“Have half of them lower their weapons to the floor, then step back,” Avery said.
Virine obeyed. “Anything else?”
The smell of smoke was growing thicker.
“Show us the way out of here,” Avery said.
“Certainly. I’ll get my glabren—”
“No. You.”
Virine lifted his lips, and Avery saw that the fang that he had earlier suspected of secreting venom was secreting it. Virine said nothing.
Screams sounded nearby, and cursing. Running feet pounded down the hall outside. Flames crackled somewhere.
“Now!” Avery said.
Virine stepped down from his living throne even as it unknitted and the glabren composing it disentangled. Avery took the opportunity to pluck up the god-killing knife and jam it into his waistband.
“Release the glabren,” Coleel said. “Get them to safety.”
Virine didn’t protest. Most of the glabren flowed out of the room, and Avery could only hope Virine cared enough about them to ensure they survived. The woman that had come to deliver the news had put a hand to the pistol at her hip but hadn’t drawn it. When Avery gestured with his gun toward the door, she nodded and left.
Three of the glabren remained, two males and a female. Their guns remained on Avery and the others.
“Send them away,” he told Virine.
“Then what insurance do I have against you shooting me?”
Avery was forced to concede the point. Layanna crossed to the bronze door they’d entered by and slid it open. Two glabren stood guard there, but at Avery’s word Virine dismissed them. Smoke was already curling up from downstairs and staining the ceiling. Coleel prodded Virine in the back with his rifle, and the gangster stumbled forward and out of the room, followed by his glabren, who kept their weapons on Coleel for the moment.
Avery grabbed up as many assault rifles as he could, then had Layanna help him. She looked reluctant but seemed to realize it was necessary for whatever reason. Only then did the two join Coleel and Virine in the hallway. “I don’t know where the stairs are,” the merchant said. “I blacked out earlier.”
“I, as well,” said Layanna.
“Well?” Coleel demanded of Virine.
