Brother Snod’s body of some of its sin, his mind will follow and cooperate.”
Obe, just tell them!
Snod shook his head, grunting as the hunters tore off his tie and vest, cutting his shirt down the back
and ripping it open. He looked at Frankie with a sad smile.
Even if I do, they’re going to kill us anyway.
There was a loud crack as Sanguis unfurled the whip, rising to his feet.
Snod shuddered at the sound, but even as terror clutched at his heart, he refused to give Sanguis the
satisfaction. He stared Sanguis down and held his head up high.
Sanguis stalked toward Snod. “Tell me the name... right now.”
“Never,” Snod replied firmly.
Sanguis circled around Snod and raised his arm, the whip ready to snap forward as he growled, “Last
chance, my child.”
“Rot in hell,” Snod quipped, spitting at Sanguis’ feet.
“May God have mercy on your soul,” Sanguis intoned, his hand jerking to strike.
“Terrell!” Frankie gasped from the floor, writhing in pain as he struggled to raise himself up. “Stop...
his name... is Terrell...”
“Frankie, don’t!” Snod protested.
“Let Obe go,” Frankie panted, his eyes shining bright as he glared at Sanguis. “Let him go, and I will
tell you the rest.”
“Frankie! No! Don’t you fucking dare!” Snod roared, fighting to get to his feet and tear away from his
captors. They grabbed him and held him firmly in place.
“Fine,” Sanguis said curtly. “We have an accord, vile fiend. Tell me the name, and I swear to
Almighty God that I will release him.”
“Terrell Guiscard,” Frankie replied breathlessly. He had managed to sit up, calling on some
incredible inner strength to fight through the horrible pain he was in. “His name is Terrell Guiscard...
Now, let Obe go.”
The elders of the council quickly gathered around the sigil on the floor to write out the name. Sanguis
was watching with a nasty smile, and then he suddenly cracked the whip across Snod’s back.
Snod yelped in pain and surprise, the kiss of the whip digging in like a hot blade. He gritted his teeth,
but couldn’t stop another cry when Sanguis struck him again.
