Hey all! I'm going to start breaking these chapters up a bit. I was looking back and realizing, they're a little overwhelming. Yeesh, when I get started on a thought . . .

"We were lucky to escape."

Zero didn't answer as he felt the dried blood at the corner of his mouth. He was fortunate Cain had been too distracted to notice he hadn't kicked him quite hard enough to render him unconscious. He had been able to stagger after Lilith into the bushes behind the princess' tent while the guards were still running around in confusion.

"You strayed from the objective, my love." Lilith spoke vehemently from where she stood at the mouth of the cave where they had taken shelter for the day. "Has your time serving the Witch robbed you of your sense of duty as well as your magical ability? Have you no longer restraint?"

"I couldn't let such an opportunity pass by." He spoke up, feeling anger rise as she threw his impediment up in his face. "Cain was right there."

"But he wasn't there, was he? You fell for a childish, stupid decoy." She spun, her anger plain. "I told you, I would deal with Cain."

"It's not your place to deal with him. It's mine." Zero reminded her. "Your responsibility was to take the younger princess's light and capture her."

"Which would have been easier if you had done what you were supposed to." Lilith said. "At least I was able to complete half of my assignment."

"Only half. Seems quite unremarkable, for an Ice Witch, really. I mean, the girl was asleep."

"Can I help it if the little wench is an animal?" Lilith examined the cuts on her middle finger. "I hope she is not diseased."

She sighed, and then as quickly as the winds change, her mood shifted. "But I suppose I will be spared. I mean, one light is at least a sufficient start."

"But not enough."

"I know. But if we exercise patience from here, the rest will come." Lilith came to sit beside him on his bedroll.

"You mean your spy in Finaqua."

"Yes, there is that." She smiled. "And other things."

"Such as?"

"The righteous are so predictable, my love." She reclined, lying on his stomach. "What do you believe Cain will do when they find out what we've taken?"

He knew what Cain would do. He would search to the ends of the realms to find Zero and return Princess DG's light.

"That's right." Lilith purred. "They will find a way. They always do. There is no need to pursue Cain, especially when our talents are needed elsewhere. And once he is taken care of, the princesses will be easily captured."

She had a point. But Cain was dangerous if you let him get too close to your front door. "It's too risky. Cain needs to be eliminated."

She laughed. Cold and clear. "I forgot to mention that, didn't I?"

Zero half-sat up to look at her. "What?"

"One day, you will learn to listen to me. Patience, I said-"

"What," he grabbed her arm and sat her up, turning her to look at him, "did you do?"

"I only released those nasty demons he's been carrying around inside." She said innocently. "It is so unhealthy to carry those things around and let them worsen. He really should deal with them."

"His memories?"

"Well, perhaps my magic will embellish on them a bit." Lilith smiled coldly. "Nothing is more pitiful then watching a strong man's descent into madness. All we have to do is wait and take him at our leisure."

"You are," Zero said, "brilliant."

"I know," she replied softly, "and hopefully, all of my brilliance will keep Stribog from killing you."