shades of brutishness, but crawlers, nonetheless.”
She watched Damascus as they walked to the castle. The witch might have made herself look like just another woman, but darkness swirled around her like smoke.
And Rune couldn’t attack her—no matter how much she needed the witch dead, she had to wait for the right time.
It was certainly not the right time.
Her people were everywhere. The grim darkness of the actual castle seemed to have no bearing on the people who lived and worked there.
They bustled about, bowing and scraping and grinning at Damascus and Rune before hurrying on to whatever task held their attention.
“It’s like a fucking cartoon,” Rune muttered.
Damascus took her arm and urged her from the courtyard to the entrance of the castle. Four armed men stood in uniform, stiff and expressionless, guarding the huge front doors.
The witch ignored them and led Rune into a vast, echoing hall. There were fireplaces large enough to lie down in, and five enormous tables made from thick, battered wood.
The hall was overflowing with people. Meaty, thick scents of food hung in the air. Big dogs lay under the tables and in the corners, playing and sleeping.
“I’m not the nicest of rulers,” Damascus admitted, watching Rune with a small smile. “I’m not sweet and full of kindness. But I’m hardly the vessel of evil my enemies say I am.”
“Then prove it.” Rune pulled her arm free, unable to tolerate the witch’s touch a second longer. The power the witch had touched her with succeeded in not only healing her, but clearing her mind.
And Damascus was trying to confuse her. The witch was pure fucking evil. She was. “Free your prisoners,” Rune continued. “Stop attacking the shimmers, and let the people have their lords back. Take care of your own shimmer and mind your own fucking business.”
The witch gave her a sharp look. “Don’t be naïve. I’m a powerful, strong woman, and I know without a single doubt that I can make things better for this world, for these people. I want to rule. I will take my armies and defeat the enemy and someday…” She took a deep breath and made an effort to speak calmly. “Someday, I will be queen of the world.”
When Rune started to speak, Damascus raised a hand to halt her. “I want power. That doesn’t make me evil. It makes me ambitious.” She grinned. “Do you think the other shimmer lords want anything less for themselves? They lied to you. My ruling Skyll will not destroy all the worlds. I will simply rule Skyll. I want you to rule at my side. That’s the truth.”
“You wanted me dead when I was an infant. You tried to kill me in my world,” Rune said.
The witch’s eyes darkened as she frowned. “I had no idea who you were when I saw you in your world. And…” She shook her head. “My memories of that time are dim and as unfinished as a vague dream.”
“You were revolting. Full of cruelty…” Rune shuddered, remembering. “There were captured, screaming souls inside you.” And I intend to release those souls.
Damascus sighed and ran her hand over Imp’s hair as though the strange, small creature were her pet. And maybe it was. “You’re such a child. I have so much to teach you. I’m a warrior. I do things to my enemies that might be considered cruel.” She shrugged. “As do we all.”
“Did you know you’d be less powerful when you entered my world?”
Damascus lifted an eyebrow. “This is your world.” Then she gestured impatiently before Rune could argue. “You ask too many unimportant questions. But yes, of course I knew. We change when we travel from the edge of hell to other worlds. Look at your ghoul, for example. When he was here, he was powerful, powerful man. And a very handsome one. He would have lost most of his power to your world. His looks…I took those.”
Rune stopped walking. “Gunnar was handsome?”
“He was the most beautiful man in Skyll, once upon a time. No one would love a ghoul, would they? No one would want him. He couldn’t bear to look at himself, but I made sure he looked in the mirror as often as possible. It was quite entertaining to see the horror in his once beautiful face.”
Rune pressed a fist to her abdomen to force back the pity and pain she felt for the ghoul she’d come to love. He’d been so tormented by the witch. Had he done terrible things for his