Page 80 of Nearly Dead

“Hush,” Leviathan draws his hand down and Paul instantly gasps and passes out.

“If you wanted me here, you could have made it a little more welcoming,” I growl.“No need for the zombie apocalypse upstairs.”

I glance at Paul to make sure he’s still breathing.

Leviathan chuckles.“Where’s the fun in that?Besides, my friends needed the exercise, and I needed to see what you are capable of.”

He gestures toward the shadows on his right, where more figures begin to emerge.These aren’t simple zombies.They’re Egyptian mummies straight out of a museum.They hold spears and look ready to pounce.They move to stand behind us, forcing us deeper into the main chamber of the crypt.

Then, almost reverently, Leviathan gestures to his left.“Come say hello to your new queen.Don’t be shy.”

The creatures who come forward are the worst yet.They move with purpose, their bodies twisted and malformed.Some have extra limbs and misshapen features.Others seem to be amalgamations of different creatures entirely.All of them watch us with intelligent, hungry eyes.

“Do you like them?”Leviathan asks, pride evident in his voice as he motions toward the mutants.“Some of my earlier experiments.Not as elegant as you, of course, but serviceable in their way.”

“You’re sick.”Anthony spits on the ground.

“I’m a visionary,” Leviathan corrects.“And soon, I’ll have the final piece I need.”

His gaze fixes on me with uncomfortable intensity.

“I will never be your queen,” I swear.

My words seem to upset some of the mutants who groan incoherently in protest.Leviathan lifts his hand as if to calm them.

“This crap never works,” I press on, glancing around the crypt for an advantage.“Thane and Elizabeth tried to rebalance power by stripping it from the world.They failed.Draakmar tried to rise up.That dragon’s been tamed.Conrad tried to kill everyone.He failed.What makes you think you’ll be any different?”

I’m not really listening to what I’m saying.I’m just trying to buy time.I don’t know how we’re going to get out of this.Zombies are blocking the way up.We’re able to take them down one on one, but as a horde they’ll easily overrun us by sheer force.I don’t see another way out of the crypt.Who knows how many more creatures Leviathan has hidden around here.

My eyes fall on the red orbs holding spirits.Leviathan let my brother out of his cage, but who else does he have in his collection?He’s called on to captured vengeful ghosts.

“I told Elizabeth she couldn’t trust the wolf, but you know women, always wanting more.”Leviathan looks at Costin as if he’ll agree with him.

Costin says nothing.I feel him through our bond.He’s biding his time until we start fighting again.

“Draakmar rising was a surprise.Your grandfather kept that prophecy close to the chest.I was worried he’d ruin my plans, but then my prophecy was stronger.”Leviathan waves his hand in dismissal.“And sweet, stupid Conrad.He was a useful tool, but he’s served his purpose.I don’t have much use for him anymore.He doesn’t have much essence left.”

Anthony’s magic flares in warning.

Leviathan turns a sharp eye on him and lifts his own hand.The mummy guards take a menacing step forward.Anthony smothers his magic.

As if summoned, Conrad’s spirit materializes beside the altar.He looks different.I can see his eyes through the black pits of his sockets.He appears less monstrous, and more like the brother I remember.His form flickers, as if he’s struggling to maintain it.

“What are you doing to him?”I demand.

“Consider it a coronation gift.”Leviathan spreads his arms.“I’ll let you kill him.”

Conrad stares at me.His mouth moves but there’s no sound.

I know what he’s done.Conrad brought this fate on himself.Asshole or not, he’s still my brother.

“Ego sum avis stultus,” I whisper.

“Uh, Tamara?”Anthony looks at me in concern.“That doesn’t make sense.”

Costin places his hand on my shoulder.I can feel he wants me to let this go.I can’t.Anything would be better than this purgatory.

“Release Conrad,” I order.“Send him to his afterlife.”

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