know he isn't the liar then?"
"I believe him and what he had to say about it," she said with conviction. "But I want to know why it is that you lied."
"And I still say that I am not the liar, my lady. Have you seen Kerrigan feed yet?"
Seren hesitated. "Nay, not exactly, but he placed his hand to my chest to show me how he draws his strength from the living."
"And did he draw that strength from you?"
"I felt the tingle of it."
"But he didn't feed, did he?"
Seren folded her arms over her chest as she moved away from him and considered his words.
Lancelot moved to block her retreat. "I am on your side in this matter, Seren. Kerrigan is a powerful demon who can command the elements as he did to attack the gargoyles. Is it not possible he used such a trick with you?"
Aye, it was possible, and she knew it. Still, she believed Kerrigan. "Why are you making me doubt him?"
"Because he is evil to the marrow of his bones, and evil will never do what is right. Your only hope to survive this is to trust me. Steal his sword and scabbard, and I will take you from here to a place where no one will ever be able to harm you or your babe again."
Seren stared at him as his words chased themselves around in her mind. How good he made it sound. How tempting.
"You know something, Lancelot?"
He arched an expectant brow.
"I don't trust you. You've done nothing yet to help me. You tell me to grab his sword and then you'll help. If you're really good and he isn't, then you'll help me without condition. Until you do, I think I shall trust myself and myself alone. Because in this, I am the only one who truly has my best interest at heart, and that is the only thing I don't doubt. God save you."
And with those words spoken, she turned about and started for the door.
"Seren, wait."
She hesitated at his call. "Aye?"
His shimmering eyes pierced her with anger. "Go, throw your lot in with your devil, and when he devours you and your child, remember that you were offered a chance to save both your lives."
His words set off her anger. How dare he say such. "Have no fear. I will bear full responsibility for everything." She headed out of the chapel.
Seren didn't know if what she did was right, but she hoped it was. As she'd said, she had no one else to trust. Her instincts had always been keen. She could always tell an honest client from a dishonest one. It was one of the things Master Rufus valued most about her.
Kerrigan wasn't as evil as he appeared. She truly felt that he was as Blaise had said. When given kindness, Kerrigan did respond to it. He would protect her and he would love this baby. She knew it.
As she started up the stairs, Lancelot appeared before her, blocking her way. She drew up short while he continued to glare as if he couldn't bear the sight of her.
"You're a feebleminded woman."
"I beg your pardon!" But before she could say anything more, a strange haze engulfed her. Seren tried to move, only to find that she couldn't.
"Had you obeyed me, we might have let you live in blissful ignorance of what befell your lover. Oh, well. Now you will deliver that sword to me and we will kill Kerrigan together. Now go."
Something inside Seren rebelled at his words, but even so she found herself on the stairs again.
"Kill Kerrigan." The command repeated itself over and over in her mind until she could hear nothing else.
It spread through her, consuming her. Drowning out all arguments and all feelings. There was nothing inside her except a demanding blackness that held her in the tightest of grips??/p>
Aye, she must kill Kerrigan.
Kerrigan lay on his side with his eyes closed as he tried to stay focused on the shield that was again being battered by Morgen's troops. A cold sweat covered him. What he really wanted to do was sleep, but he didn't dare.
He'd pulled off all his armor and wore nothing but the tunic Seren had given him and a pair of breeches. Caliburn lay beside him, barely a hand's breadth away.
As he heard someone enter the room, he reached for the sword to take it by the hilt. He rolled to his back to see Seren entering.
He let go of Caliburn and relaxed.