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"We know he had a witch who helped hio nodded his head toward the pugio "And that would see the truth Gaius would never leave it lying around" He returned his gaze to Styx "What did she want?"

"She said she had been using Gaius’s lair in Louisiana to stay hidden in case she was being hunted for her worship of the Dark Lord"

"More likely she knew that Gaius was dead and decided to help herself to his possessions"

Again there was that odd hesitation and Santiago felt a chill of pre on

So to like

"If that was the case, then she was in for a disappointuarded

"Disappointo she returned to the lair to discover Gaius was there"

"No" Santiago clenched his hands This was supposed to be over, dammit The Dark Lord was dead and so was the sire he’d once considered his father "I don’t believe it"

Soh Styx’s eyes "I didn’t either, but Viper was convinced she was speaking the truth At least, the truth as far as she knows it It could be that she’s being used as a pawn"

Santiago hissed His clan chief possessed a talent for reading the souls of hu the truth thendios

"I witnessed hih the rift with the Dark Lord, but how the hell did he survive the battle?"

"Actually, he only survived in part"

Santiago struggled against the sensation he was standing on quicksand "What the hell does that e"

"He’s been acting strange for centuries," Santiago muttered "The treacherous bastard"

"She said that he looked filthy and confused," Styx continued, his watchful gaze never wavering froo’s bitter expression "And she was certain he didn’t recognize her"

Santiago frowned, more baffled by the claim that Gaius had been filthy than his supposed confusion His sire had always been limpse of Gaius’s lair beyond the Veil had only emphasized the elder va to the witch, he looked like he was under a compulsion"

"Impossible Gaius is far too powerful to have histhe controlling," Styx pointed out "Sally also said that he was obviously trying to protect so or soo shifted his gaze to make sure the door was closed No need to cause a panic

"The Dark Lord?"

"No" Styx gave a firm shake of his head "The Oracles are certain the Dark Lord is well and truly dead"

Santiago’s stab of relief was offset by Styx’s griht be dead, but Styx clearly was afraid so Gaius

"You’ve spoken to the Oracles?"

Styx griht was like yours, that he’d e some small part of the Dark Lord, I naturally went to the Commission with my fears"

"And?"

The roohts flicker and the computer monitors shut down

"And they politely told h How many tio was going with the number zero

"Howpower continued to throb through the rooo helpfully offered

"Healthy," Styx corrected "But, I’ of Vaht approach diplomacy like a bull in a china shop, but he was too shrewd to confront the Coe the Oracles, but then again, Santiago didn’t believe for a second he was going to sit back and meekly obey their command

Obey and Styx shouldn’t be used in the same sentence

"If this is none of your business, why did you come to me?" he demanded