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Vanzir ca into the kitchen, where he straddled the chair next toWith dangerous plays, Gulakah’s followers are bewitched, ready to give up their lives at his co Are you sure you want to take the chance?"

"There really isn’t a choice, is there?" I caught his gaze and held it

Vanzir tilted his head to the side, a knowing look on his face He reached out and, with his finger lightly tipping up my chin, nodded "There’s always a choice It just depends on what you choose to do"

"True," I said slowly "But I’ood chance to find out some much-needed information" And with that, I finished ives, wife?" Morio asked

I pushed back"

As I finished telling the, and Shade went to answer it "So, Pentangle told me we can kill Gulakah, but we need to do it in the land of the dead The Netherworld"

"Even the gods can die," Smoky murmured "She seems intent that we have to kill Gulakah and not just dispatch him"

"Yes, she does I don’t like it, but the ht If we just send hi, he’ll be back We can’t banish him--we don’t have the power for that Nor can we trap his soul"

Delilah didn’t look too happy about the news "Why does Pentangle think we can kill him easier in the Netherworld?"

"Because of the silver cord Because without severing that cord, Gulakah still has access to all of his power And we can only sever it in the Netherworld No, the question isn’t why, but hoe do it"

"I can help with that" Shade looked troubled, coot off the phone with Carter" Before we could ask, he said, "Carter did some research for us Here’s a little more information Any attacks on Gulakah here are useless They may disempower hile is right--we have to do it in the Netherworld"

Delilah frowned "So we have to find out where he’s hiding, and then Caates him to the Netherworld with her? And after that, we justto do that?"

Shade cleared his throat "Carter says he’s pretty sure that a spell ork on hiht be able to cast, with Ca about, and I’ve never tried to cast it, though I know the procedure It’s dangerous"

"What spell?" I turned to them "Tell me"

"The Greater Asa Mordente spell The final death"

The Greater Asa Mordente spell was insanely powerful, but highly dangerous, and it involved sus, the phoenix--not exactly child’s play, and soBut it was the only hope we had

"That means you have to be in the Netherworld with me" I held up my hand as Smoky and Delilah started to protest "We have no choice We have tofor the spell Have everything ready I’ll spend soain after I check out the talisether, but he said nothing Delilah looked stricken, but I gave her a shake of the head

Vanzir shrugged "It’s the best plan we have"

After ahis elbows on the table "We can do this, ic to do so Aeval…" He stopped

I stood, irritated "Aeval what?"

"Nothing Never mind"

"No, there will be no ‘never mind’ Aeval what? No secrets Tellhis head for a ive up on this "Very well Remember when you found out that the order of the Moon Mother trains their own sorceresses--and that they use dark Moon ic?"

I slowly nodded, Queen Asteria’s words lingering in my ears I hadn’t wanted to think about the home to roost

"Perhaps now is the time to tell you Your beloved Moon Mother trains her own sorcerers, although she will not call theic Why do you think Morio’s ic comes so easily to you?"

"I re? Her priestesses are divided, Bright Moon and Dark Moon Derisa is High Priestess of the Bright Moon Mother When you take the role of the first Earthside high priestess, you will be taking the role of the Dark Moon High Priestess…and you will evolve fro one of the Moon Mother’s sorceresses Your powers are already greatly increasing…more than you realize"

I stared at hiht up to hate them And noas to become one?

"It’s just a word," Morio whispered "Just a word, sweetheart"