In spite of everything, Zeke was beginning to enjoy life on Nod.

Hormiz was softening and even smiled a couple times. Zeke’s bed was dark and cozy, and he even acquired a taste for the weird foods. They all tasted like variations of potato and sausage, but that wasn’t so bad. He just tried not to think about the worms. Zeke hadn’t forgotten what he came here to do, but while he was here, he had a friend, and all his needs were cared for.

Lilith was winning. She won every round, but this time her victory was a little less certain than the time before. Zeke was improving. Lilith found him amusing. She moved her piece into position and Zeke’s Adam was captured.

“Good round,” she said. “Perhaps you’ll win next supper.”

Then she stood up to leave.

Zeke and Hormiz stood and bowed their heads as she left.

And that’s when chaos erupted from the ground in the form of Mama and Papa.

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Lilith screamed, and thousands of cainkin flew down, raining sharp teeth and claws.

Papa summoned a barrier of shadows around them, and flew to Zeke and Hormiz.

Mama ran to Hormiz, grabbing his hands she said, “Baby, I’m so sorry I lost you before. I will never lose you again. I love you, and we’re going home.” She turned to look at Zeke, “Can you move us to the bathro-”

Before she could finish the question, a bolt of lightning like a sword, cleaved Mama in half. She fell to the floor and dissolved into an ingot in a puddle of precious metals.

Zeke screamed, “No!” and fell to his knees. He reached to pick up the ingot but it burned his hands.

Meanwhile, Papa was being electrocuted into submission. Long threads of lightning flew from the Bone Gaunlets fingertips and into Papa’s writhing body, until Papa stopped moving.

Then Lilith advanced furiously on Zeke. “So, you’ve been lying this whole time, accepting my hospitality, while you brought a spy into my house? You did this. What am I to do with you?”

Zeke was on his knees crying. Mama was gone. Papa was down. Zeke was too late. Why didn’t he act sooner? It was all his fault. He could have saved them.

Lilith put the sharp claws of the Bone Gauntlet under Zeke’s chin and lifted his head up. “Summon the Ivory Blade, or I will kill Samaal.”

She waved a hand, and a dozen cainkin landed on and around Samaal’s slow-moving chest.