Page 144 of Discarded (Shifter's Vault 1)

"No, Great One, I beg you. I am your most humble servant. I—" With a flick of Comus's wrist, he descended into the sarcophagus. The lid rose up from the floor.

"Please—" Luther sobbed. He put up a hand to keep the lid from lowering down onto him.

I caught sight of his wild, terrified eyes before the lid dropped back into place.

"Don't worry, he's not dead." Comus lowered his arm. "The sarcophagus will keep him alive for as long as I live. I plan for that to be approximately…eternity."

Helene let out a choking sound. "He will be honoured to make the sacrifice for you, Great One."

Comus waved a hand. "Of course he is. Now, as for you two." He rubbed his beard. It was almost to his chin, but seemed to have stopped growing now.

"My uncle, Hades, had a little nickname for me. Lord of the Dead. Isn't that sweet? It's because I liked to kill people and keep their souls from him. Souls make fabulous servants." He eyed Helene.

She took a step back. "I swear to serve you, Great One. You—you promised freedom."

"I did, didn't I?" He examined his fingernails and frowned. "Yes, I did. Freedom from life and all the suffering that comes with it." He pointed a finger toward Helene and she began to shrivel like a grape left out in the sun.

She raised her hands to either side and screamed, even as her hands glowed with power. The glow only lasted a moment before her skin seemed to turn to paper and clung to her bones. Her body fell to the floor with a soft thud. A few heartbeats later a smoky version of herself rose from it.

She still screamed, but it made no sound.

"She'll settle down," Comus said easily. He gave me a warm smile. "So, you weren't as eager to free me. Why did you?"

I shrugged and held onto my power, even though I was sure it was woefully inadequate against him. "They made me do it, and you offered freedom."

"Ah." He held up a finger. "Rule number one: never trust a demigod, especially one trapped inside that for fuck knows how long." He jerked his thumb toward the sarcophagus.

"I don't think they knew what you were." My eyes went to Helene's body.

"That's possible, I suppose," he conceded. "So, you don't want to serve me?"

Was there a way I could respond to that, and not get killed?

"Not particularly," I said honestly. "I've had enough of doing what other people say."

"So, in a way," he said slowly, "I've done you a favour by ridding you of those two."

Helene's ghostly form had stopped screaming and now lay curled in a corner, rocking back and forth.

I wouldn't have wanted that for the woman, even after everything.

"In a manner of speaking, I suppose you have," I agreed.

"Excellent." He smiled brightly. "Then you will owe me a favour in return. I shall call upon you when I need to."

The blood drained from my face. "Uh—"

He held up a hand. "No need to thank me. It will take a while. I need to find my mother first."

"And do what?" I asked carefully.

"Why, kill her of course," he said cheerfully. "And my Uncle Hades." .

"Won't that—"

"Unravel the world and kill everyone on it? Yes, I would imagine it would. Just think how much fun it will be, with all those souls to serve us."

"Us?" My voice broke.

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