Page 36 of As Above, So Below

A moment of silence passes, and his face settles into a scathing scowl. He takes a deep breath and a few steps forward, pushing past the souls.

“Not simply a demon,” he says as he withdraws his dagger. “A Death Bringer who stalks from the shadows.”

Ylara shifts beside me, and instinctively my grip grows iron clad around her hand causing her to freeze. If forced from hiding, it should bemeto face the necromancer, not Ylara.

Releasing her, I move forward into the light. The necromancer’s face turns into a sanguine smile.

“I do not seek you or your souls, necromancer,” I say, willing confidence and authority into my voice. “I am simply waiting for you to leave. I’ve no business with you.”

A dark, ominous laugh fills the space between us, echoing down the corridor as he sheathes his weapon. “I thought your scent was familiar,” he says with a knowing grin, his voice low. “You must be Vaelyn’s twin.”

I shouldn’t be surprised he knows Vaelyn, but I fight to keep the surprise from my face. Vaelyn has a way of networking with powerful figures, and it seems this necromancer is important enough to know. And clearly, they’re familiar enough for Vaelyn to share about his twin.

“Do not forget who you’re addressing, mortal,” I reply, my voice cold as our eyes meet.

The necromancer immediately lowers his eyes and sweeps into a deep bow. “Forgive me, Vessel of Death. I meant no offense. I am honored to meet yet another within House Netharis.”

He straightens himself, a warm smile on his face. “Cenviri Shadowspire of House Cenviri.”

My brows raise slightly. Not simply a House patriarch, but thedominatingHouse Patriarch.

I hesitate in giving him my name. There’s a lot of power in knowing a demon’s name, especially for a dark fae House Patriarch.

Not wanting to raise further suspicion, I reluctantly return his greeting. “Vestaris Moonshadow of House Netharis.” I say but do not bow.

Demons don’t bow to mortals.

Perhaps now isn’t an appropriate time to test the use of my fae family name. At the same time, what harm could it possibly bring?

“An unexpected honor to meet you, Vestaris,” he says with a warmer, welcoming tone. “Vaelyn speaks fondly of you.”

“Vaelyn has a loose tongue it seems,” I counter and he chuckles, nodding.

“Do not fault him.” Cenviri shakes his head slowly. “Vaelyn and I have worked closely for nearly six centuries. It is impossible not to learn things about one another in such time.”

Vaelyn has shared stories about this dark fae with me.

He is ruthless, merciless, and dominates Cerwiden by leaving any who oppose him a bloodied mess—before reanimating their bodies to serve him in death. The mortals of Cerwiden grasp at order through chaos, the dominating House often shifting every other century. But Cenviri has held as the dominant House for the last three hundred years.

“Why have I not seen you about Cerwiden?” he asks, lifting a dark brow.

“I am not assigned to Cerwiden,” I answer rather reluctantly. I’d much rather this dark fae take his souls and leave. But I cannot risk angering him causing him to run to either Vaelyn or worse, Netharis.

“Eldoterra then?” He makes a soft clicking sound with his tongue as he shakes his head. His lips curl into a surprisingly handsome smile. “I doubt thosefaerevere you as they should. You would be celebrated, praised, worshiped in Cerwiden. Perhaps I can propose the change to Netharis.”

My eyes widen as the blood in my veins turns to ice. “Your kindness and reverence is noted, Cenviri.” I say, keeping my voice from trembling. “I would much rather approach Netharis myself with such a request.”

He nods, pursing his lips as he folds his arms over his chest. “Wise. As a mortal, Netharis is difficult to approach.”

I scoff a quiet laugh. Even as an undead, ethereal creature of the hells Netharis is difficult to approach.

“Light take your enemies, Lord of Blood,” I offer the general well wishing words of the hells.

“Darkness keep you safe, Vessel of Death,” he completes the sentiment with a small bow of his head. “Do not let me hinder your passage any longer. I’ve collected what I require, and my time here is nearly up. I do hope we meet again, Vestaris.”

Cenviri offers a curt bow before grabbing the loose end of the tethered souls. Behind him, a rectangular door opens out of nothingness, revealing the living realm beyond. My eyes catch on his body seated in the middle of a summoning circle on the floor of what looks like a candle-lit cave.

Apparently, he is skilled in soul projecting. An alternate and relatively safer way for mortals to travel through the hells. Granted, safer does not mean safe by any definition of the term.