out. But my body was no longer available. All I could do was boil at a high temperature and pray that the universe would find a way to punish him for such atrocities.
Rudolph purred slowly, looking up at Zoltan.
“What about the first one we caught, milord?” the second guard asked. “Will you turn him, too?”
Zoltan shrugged. “I haven’t made up my mind yet. There’s something about him that I find intriguing. I’ll think about it and let you know, but until then, he stays where he is.”
“He’s awfully loud when we’re feeding the ghouls,” the first guard replied. “Can we at least gag the sucker? He’s a headache to all of us.”
“Do whatever you want.” Zoltan sighed. “Now, time to feed this good boy here.”
He walked back out of the cell, and the guards tossed the Nalorean inside, instead. Rudolph stared at the poor creature, then at me. He shuddered, nodding at the door. “Leave,” he whispered. “Leave…”
He didn’t want me to see what he was about to do, but I knew. I could see the hunger in his black eyes, the veins swelling as he pushed himself into a standing position. My vision became hazy, and I left the room, standing back and covering my ears.
The black guards and Zoltan blocked the door, watching with perverted delight, as the Nalorean’s muffled screams burst from the cell. I heard Rudolph growl, and I cried as the ghoul killed the Nalorean.
“Help me! Somebody help me!” the Nalorean spirit screamed, and I cried out when Rudolph took him. I didn’t need to see what was happening to know… to understand the feeding process of a young ghoul. Rudolph had just murdered a living Nalorean in order to eat his soul.
I covered my mouth with both hands, dropping to my knees and cursing the fates for having brought me to this place, for having pushed me to this point. I was now endorsing Rudolph’s feeding habits in order to keep him focused on freeing Seeley. I was helpless before what was happening, but I wasn’t even protesting anymore. It was all to help Seeley.
When Rudolph was done with the Nalorean spirit, his body already carried away and likely fed to other inferior ghouls, Zoltan took out a new iron collar, with different runes engraved into its surface. It came with a three-foot leash made of leather and iron chains. He carried it inside the cell, while the guards waited outside, exchanging nervous glances.
“Now, will you be a good boy and come with me for a brisk walk?” Zoltan asked, and I heard Rudolph’s low growl. It was meant to be a yes, it seemed. “Let’s go.”
Moments later, Zoltan walked out with a grin slitting his face and Rudolph on a leash, the new collar tightly clasped around his neck. The guards moved back, not wanting to stand too close to him. I would’ve loved for Rudolph to just rip them apart, but Zoltan’s trust was more important at this point.
When Rudolph saw me again, his expression, as distorted and as awful as it was, lit up. He seemed relieved to see me, and I forced myself to smile. He needed my support and my reassurance. Despite what he was and what he’d just done, I had to be there for him if any of this was going to work.
I stayed close to him as he moved on all fours, obediently pacing himself by Zoltan’s side. My ghostly skin crawled from the Aeternae’s vicinity, but I had no choice. Rudolph was my ally here.
“Let me show you around,” Zoltan said to the ghoul.
Looking back, I noticed the guards continued to keep their distance. They were not fond of ghouls, in general, both of them clutching the scythes mounted on their belts. Physically, it wouldn’t be too hard for Rudolph to steal one, provided he could get close enough without stirring suspicions. The key here was for nobody to blame him once they realized a scythe had gone missing.
“Your friends are here,” Zoltan continued, stopping in front of another cell door.
“Keep it together,” I said to Rudolph, already feeling queasy. I knew what the Aeternae was trying to do with this brief tour. He was looking to test the ghoul’s resolve and self-control by showing him the others—his own people, transformed and degraded. “He’s doing this to push you. Don’t let him win.”
Zoltan opened the door with one of his keys, revealing Lisl inside. She was naked, her Reaper clothes in tatters on the floor.