Page 25 of Warrior Unraveled

9

In his private rooms, Zoltan breathed through the crippling pain that assaulted his head. The migraine-like attacks were getting worse. He’d been lucky again this time: when the pain had surfaced, he’d already been on his way to his private quarters, and had made it just in time, before he’d collapsed on his bed.

Now, half an hour later, he felt drained and knew he had to go up top, to the human world, to replenish his energy and feed off the fear of a human so none of his subjects realized that something was wrong with their leader. Because once they did, the hyenas would prey on him. A weak leader, no matter whether the weakness was physical or mental, was a dead leader.

Zoltan shrugged into his coat, armed himself with two daggers, one hidden in his inside pocket, one in his boot, and left his quarters. As he walked toward one of the vortex circles, the only places in the Underworld where he could conjure a portal that would carry him into the human world, he contemplated his options.

It was time to prepare for the worst. He needed an escape plan, in case his affliction was ever noticed. One that nobody, not even Vintoq, his closest confidant, knew of. A safe place somewhere in the human world, where he could disappear when things got too hot in the Underworld.

Once he was done feeding off the fear of a human, the fear that would make him strong again, he would go about it immediately.

Before he even reached the vortex circle, a cave where six tunnels met, Zoltan knew something was wrong. Yannick, the demon who oversaw all vortex circles, was arguing with one of his subordinates.

“What is this?” Zoltan thundered.

Both demons spun around to face him, bowing their heads briefly in a show of submission.

Then Yannick said, “Nothing important. There’s been a disruption in the force field.”

“What kind of disruption?” Zoltan asked.

“Just a flare, the same kind that happens when we conjure our vortexes.”

Zoltan made a dismissive hand movement. He wasn’t in the mood to hear about problems his underlings should work out themselves. “Then it was probably just that: someone conjuring a vortex.”

Zoltan took a step toward the center of the circle, but the other demon stepped in front of him. “With all due respect, oh Great One—”

Zoltan glared at him. “What is your name?”

“Quentin, oh Great One.”

He snatched the insolent demon by the collar. “Then get out of my way, Quentin. Or I’ll crush you with my bare hands.”

“But the force field wasn’t centered in one of the vortex circles.” The demon’s voice trembled.

“What?”

Quentin motioned to Yannick. “I was trying to explain to Yannick that the disturbance came from somewhere else.”

Zoltan snapped his head toward Yannick. “Is that true?”

“It can’t be,” Yannick stated. “It’s impossible. No demon can cast a vortex outside of the vortex circles. And I’ve had all of them checked. The guards were unanimous. Nobody opened a vortex during the timeframe Quentin claims to have felt the disturbance. I keep meticulous records.”

Zoltan nodded. Just as he’d asked Yannick to do so he could keep close tabs on the movements of his demons. Which meant something was seriously wrong. He turned back to Quentin.

“Where do you believe the disturbance happened?”

Quentin pointed to one of the tunnels. “It came from there. I’m certain.”

“How do you know?”

“There was a sound that accompanied it. And a shock wave.” He pointed to a niche. It contained a clipboard with papers. “The paper began to flutter.”

Since there was no wind in the tunnels, air could only be stirred up by a few things: a vortex being conjured, a demon running in the tunnels, or an explosion blasting through it.

“Come with me,” Zoltan ordered. “Show me where you think it happened.” He glanced over his shoulder at Yannick. “You guard the circle in the meantime.”

Yannick nodded dutifully, and Zoltan followed the other demon into the tunnel he’d pointed out.