Read Dark God for Free Online Page B

with guilt about what you did. That
was the Black Lord, not you."
    His brows rose. "I am not
tormented by guilt."
    Mirra shot him a shocked look,
wishing that he was. At least it would show that he had a
conscience, and was not inherently evil. Then again, she reminded
herself, he was still filled with the dark power, which warped his
thinking and twisted his reason, probably robbing him of a
conscience as well. In fact, right now he carried more of the
corruption within him than ever, since he had been forced to leash
the massive energies he had Gathered at the seventh ward. Only once
he was purged would his true nature be revealed. She had glimpsed
it on occasion, when his tasks had drained his power, and then he
had been a troubled, unhappy man. Even then, however, his loyalty
to the Black Lord had made him angry and scornful.
    Ellese waited at the top of the
five steps that led into the chapel, her expression serene. The
golden doors stood open, and a soft radiance filled the abbey
behind her. Two other Elder Mothers flanked her, and a group of
stern-faced healers stood behind them, their hard eyes on Bane.
With a glad cry, Mirra ran up the steps to be engulfed in Ellese's
welcoming embrace. It had been far too long since Mirra had known
the comforting touch of another human being, and hot tears flooded
her eyes.
    "Mother! It is so good to be
home."
    Ellese hugged her, then held her
away to study her, brushing the tears from her cheeks. Elder
Mother's eyes also grew moist, and she pulled Mirra into her arms
again, stroking her ragged hair. Clearly Mirra's thinness and
frailty distressed Ellese.
    "My poor, sweet child, how I
have missed you," she murmured. "Thank the Goddess you are returned
to us unharmed."
    "I have missed you too,
Mother."
    "I know, my dear, but you are
safe now. I regret all you have suffered, and the Goddess does
too."
    Ellese kissed Mirra's brow, then
released her and looked at Bane, who stood at the bottom of the
steps, his hands clasped behind him. He seemed a little puzzled by
this strange behaviour, and rather bored, his pale eyes sweeping
the gathered women. Ellese stepped around Mirra and walked down the
steps.
    Bane eyed Ellese when she
stopped a step above him, her face almost level with his, and
studied him. He held her gaze, his stare becoming a glare as her
scrutiny annoyed him. Ellese slapped him so hard that he
staggered.
    "Mother!" Mirra ran down to
Bane, who fingered his bleeding lip. He shook her off when she
tried to grab his arm and spun to face the seeress with murder in
his eyes. Ellese raised her chin, undaunted.
    "I hope that hurt, Bane. You
have had a lot of pain, but none of it was punishment, was it? That
was for all the innocent people you have tortured and killed, for
your ill treatment of Mirra, beating her, starving her. I think you
got off lightly."
    "How dare you?" Blood ran down
his chin, and his eyes blazed.
    Ellese smiled.
"How dare I? It is a small punishment for what you have done. Do
you want to use your power? Smear me to ash? You will die if you
do, and your demon steed
cannot help you here."
    Bane glared at Mirra. "I did not
come here to be insulted."
    Ellese answered before Mirra
could. "Did you think we would welcome you with open arms? The
great Demon Lord, a walking corpse, alive only because of us. You
ignored the warnings, broke the last ward, and now the Black Lord
is risen. Here you will learn to be humble, to mourn those you
killed."
    "Never!" He swung away, only to
find that healers surrounded him, mostly older women, their eyes
stony. He had not yet regained all of his strength, and did not
seem to relish the prospect of trying to fight his way through
them, even if he could, which was doubtful. Apparently the thought
of their touch made him shudder, and he turned back to Ellese.
    "So you all hate me. Do you
think I care? The girl said that you do not know hatred, but you
do. She lied!"
    Elder Mother shook her head. "We
do not lie, that is the Black