Zeke was alone in a stunning house. A grand harp, a replica of the one Hormiz had played in the dream they met, rested in a corner. The furniture was all the same pressed-wood substance. The walls were all low and artfully sculpted from the stone. The ceilings were all overhangs since everyone on Nod could fly but Zeke. Only the bedroom was fully enclosed to block out light. The bed itself was firm but cozy.

But Zeke wasn’t tired, so he explored the house and found the kitchen.

Two cainkin were playing a game with polished stones. Papa’s shadow constructs were an accurate facsimile but couldn’t capture their true colors and essence. They were ashen grey with yellow eyes, and in their eyes wasn’t only hunger, but fear. They were petrified. Drool fell from trembling fangs.

“So what do people eat around here?” Zeke asked.

The cainkin gave no response.

That went nowhere, so Zeke went for a walk. The guards at the door didn’t stop him. They didn’t move a muscle. Zeke didn’t wander far. He just wanted to look around.

The city was enormous and made Zeke’s childhood cave seem childish indeed. He was near the city center. The outer walls were so far, the crawling cainkin looked like ants. Thousands of cainkin were along the outer wall, or else they were gathered in two processing centers. That’s what Zeke assumed, anyway. Cainkin carried in full bags and flew out with empty bags. Countless other cainkin seemed to be flying by on ineffable missions to places Zeke could only imagine.

Zeke was overwhelmed and ran back inside. He didn’t know what else to do, so Zeke sat at the harp, closed his eyes, put his ear to the wood, and ran his fingers along the strings until his heart stopped racing.

“You’re doing it wrong,” Hormiz said.

Zeke jumped. How long had Hormiz just been standing there, looking grumpy? “Well, I’ve never done it before. Would you teach me?”

Hormiz shuffled uneasily, but said, “I can try.” He almost looked excited as he opened a drawer and retrieved sheets of paper. He moved a stand in front of Zeke and displayed the sheets on it.

“Straighten your back. Lean the harp onto your shoulder,” Hormiz told him.

Zeke did as he was told.

“Hold your hands like this, here,” Hormiz took Zeke’s hands and his heart jumped. They were close enough Zeke could smell Hormiz’s clean, musky fur.

“Now, see this dash here? When the dashes go up, you move your hands toward you. When the dashes go down, you move your hands farther away.”

Zeke tried to follow instructions, but it soon became obvious that he couldn’t read music. So Hormiz explained music theory in passionate detail. He seemed so happy talking about it, Zeke just listened, and tried to absorb as much as he could.

A loud bell rang out, and the two cainkin servants brought in plates of food. Zeke was scared to eat anything here, but he was hungry. Hinata’s scrambled breakfast felt like a long time ago.

The food was mercifully simple. Something savory wrapped in a doughy crust and a side of sweet and spicy sauce. Zeke didn’t dare ask what the meat was. Instead, he asked, “Why are you teaching me music if you want to kill me? Why do you hate me?”

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Hormiz shifted uncomfortably. “Our Queen Mother ordered me to be your friend. I don’t know why I hate you. I just do.”

“Bullshit! You’re jealous. Admit it! You wish Rowan and Samaal had raised you instead of me.”

“Fine, I admit it! I wanted what you had!”

“Then let me give it to you!”

“You can’t! You have nowhere to go, nowhere you can hide where she won’t find you! And if not her, then Adam. It’s him or her, and you’re here, so choose! Live in service to Lilith, or die in service to her!”

That scared Zeke, but he said, “You’re wrong. What Lilith is doing is wrong. And I am going to take you home.”

“Then do it! Stop talking and do it!” Hormiz dared him.

Zeke bit his lip. He wasn’t sure he could. But he put his hand on Hormiz’s shoulder and closed his eyes. He focused on Nohu Mangrove. Nothing happened. He tried to focus more. Still nothing. Hormiz’s shoulder was distracting. His muscles were like steel, yet his skin was so soft.

“Okay, I haven’t completely mastered moving through space. I usually have to meditate for a while,” Zeke cringed at how pathetic he sounded. He almost cried seeing the look of disgust on Hormiz’s face.

Then, oddly, pity. “Like I said. This is your home now. It’s not so bad, really. Adam can’t reach you here. And if you prove yourself to Lilith, she’ll reward you.” Hormiz put his hand on Zeke’s shoulder. “And maybe I won’t kill you.”

Zeke thought Hormiz was terribly confusing. Music theory made more sense. They spent more time practicing the harp. After a while, Zeke asked about the game he saw the cainkin playing earlier. Hormiz said it was called War Tactics, and involved sacrificing cainkin, cities, and angels to defeat the opponent’s Adam. Lilith was the strongest piece on the board. Hormiz taught Zeke a few rounds and crushed him everytime.

Finally, the bell chimed again, and Hormiz led Zeke to another dais, this one with an enormous table. Strange and various foods were laid out, a few even looked appetizing. Lilith was sitting at the center of the table with a stiff smile locked on her face. She was so naturally unsettling, Zeke couldn’t tell if she was pleased or furious. Around her, the air shimmered magnificently.

“Both of you, sit,” Lilith’s order sounded friendly.

They took chairs next to each other and opposite Lilith.

“So, tell me about your day,” she inquired.

“I taught Zeke to play the harp and War Tactics,” Hormiz responded.

“I was asking Ezekiel,” Lilith said. She turned sweetly to Zeke and said, “Forgive him his obsession with music. But at least he’s introducing you to our culture. Tell me, did you enjoy War Tactics?”

“Um. Yeah, it’s a fun game.”

“A game? Hm. And have you won a round yet?”

“Not yet. Hormiz trounced me every round.”

“This is good. I shall make you a wager. Every third bell, we will have supper and play a round of War Tactics. And if you can defeat me, I will take you to Samaal.”

Zeke knew he had no choice but to say, “I accept.”

“This is good. Now, Ezekiel, I’d like to know exactly what you can do for me. Can you move my army to Eden?”

“I don’t know,” Zeke had a sinking feeling.

“Can you activate the mirror gate and send my army through that?”

“I’m not sure. Maybe?”

“Maybe?”

“Maybe. I’ve never opened a mirror gate before. In theory, I think it’s possible.”

“You say you moved yourself here through space. Why can’t you move my army the same way?”

“I don’t know. Getting here seems to be easier than leaving.”

Lilith smirked. “That has always been the case. Perhaps things can be summoned here. It’s time for a demonstration of your usefulness to me. Summon something.”

Zeke knew if he failed this test, his welfare was forfeit. So he closed his eyes and concentrated. Soon his fingers wrapped around the handle of his longknife.

Lilith reached over to take the longknife. Zeke didn’t want to give it to her, but knew better than to resist. She appraised it and found it satisfactory, saying, “This is a fine gift for your queen.”

Zeke could only nod. After supper, cainkin cleared the table and brought the pieces to play War Tactics. Lilith dominated him.