“Where is he?” Nitiri’s shriek echoed through the frozen palace, sending all the servants scurrying for safety.
She sounded like an elephant stomping down the stairs. She turned and stormed back up them for the tenth time, enraged. Even the guards had vanished like smoke in the wind. She hadn’t meant to sleep for two days, but her mind held her captive far too long. When she finally clawed her way to consciousness, the prince had vanished, and Damond had no idea how such a thing could’ve been managed.
“Tiberius? Where are you?” she screeched at the empty room, no doubt causing the staff to wonder about her sanity. She waited for a few seconds before shouting, “Bathen, I know you two can hear me!”
A cool breeze gusted through the palace, even though the doors and windows were closed. The oil lamps flickered, and one corner of the room went pitch black. Shadows and darkness danced in the dim light, and a pair of cat-like green eyes materialized in the dark.
“Ah, Bathen. Where is Tiberius?” she demanded.
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Another glowing pair of red eyes emerged from the black mist.
“Here, mistress.”
A shiver traveled up Nitiri’s spine. His voice sounded like a snake, brittle and slimy.
“How was your mission?” she asked.
“All those on the borders have been eliminated,” Tiberius said.
A gleam of hatred flashed in his eyes, although she wasn’t sure if it was for her or his victims. Not that she cared. She knew the dark beings hated her.
“Someone has freed the prince,” she said, anger still evident in her voice. The mist stirred, as if an invisible hand swept it to the side.
“Are you sure he did not escape on his own?” Bathen’s deep, grating voice reverberated down the quiet halls.
“Yes, he had assistance and must be found. He can undo all of my plans.”
Tiberius stared at her for a few seconds. “Shall we kill him?”
“Only if you have no other choice. Bringing him back is all I require.”
She knew she should kill him while she had the chance, but she would rather not assassinate him if she could help it.
“Then why not send some of your men? They would be able to apprehend him with more ease.”
“You can locate them faster,” Nitiri said curtly. Her orders obviously displeased the horrible beings, but they could do nothing besides swish around their mist.
“As you wish,” they whispered in unison before vanishing.